Engineering

As an Engineering PhD student at the University of Brighton you will be joining the prestigious Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC). The centre has its own dedicated building and enjoys an international reputation for producing innovative, future-facing research.

Here, we investigate and optimise complex thermofluid processes and develop laser-based measurement techniques, fundamental modelling and computational simulation and conduct engineering research across a range of areas including aeronautical, aerospace, electrical and manufacturing.

Together with our numerous industrial partners, we continually invest in facilities, equipment and our researchers to help us build new capabilities, refine our modelling and simulation methods and exploit fully our joint expertise.

Key facts

As an Engineering Engineering PhD student at University of Brighton University of Brighton , you will benefit from:

• a supervisory team comprising two and sometimes three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism you may also have an additional supervisor from another school, another research institution, or an external partner from government or industry. 

• desk space and access to a desktop PC, either in one of the postgraduate offices on the 6th floor of the award-winning Cockcroft Building, or within the adjacent Huxley Building.  

• access to a range of electronic resources via the University’s Online Library, as well as to the physical book and journal collections housed within the Aldrich Library and other campus libraries. 

• various state-of-the-art research facilities on the Moulsecoomb site. 

The scope of our research covers a number of fundamental, complimentary activities as outlined below:

• Thermal propulsion systems – Significant improvements in the efficiency of thermal propulsion systems (e.g. engines), leading to more radical and disruptive approaches to conversion of heat into useful work.

• Thermofluid processes – Exploration and characterisation of complex thermofluid processes, including fluid dynamics, mass and heat transfer. We use a unique combination of both simulation and experimental work to better understand the physics of flows, droplets and sprays, to allow faster and more robust optimisation and validation of new and improved products.

• Heat management and energy storage – Design of heat transfer devices (e.g. heat exchangers, heat pipes and other two-phase systems) and energy storage systems, aiming to enhance efficiency of waste heat recovery systems, electronic cooling and renewable energy systems.