PhD Studentship - Micromechanics of Grain-interface Interactions (Soil-structure Interaction) University of Nottingham in United Kingdom

[Fully funded for 3.5 years tuition and includes a tax-free UKRI stipend of approximately £20,780.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Nottingham offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the micromechanics of grain-interface interactions, with a focus on soil-structure interaction. The project, supervised by Dr Angus Pettey and Dr Charles Heron, aims to challenge traditional views by exploring how changing particle shape affects material wear and stress transfer during continuous shearing. These mechanisms are critical for understanding the performance and durability of wind turbine foundations, underground pipelines, and even pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

Sand, the most common engineering material, presents unresolved questions regarding its interaction with structural materials under shear and abrasion. This research seeks to fill gaps in knowledge that impact a wide range of granular engineering problems. The experimental lab at Nottingham is equipped to tackle these challenges, offering candidates the chance to gain expert knowledge in experimental modelling, advanced programming, data analysis, and simulation skills. The project also provides opportunities to develop teaching and lab demonstration experience, and to learn how to communicate complex research effectively.

Applicants are welcome from diverse backgrounds, including mechanical and materials engineering, mathematics, computer science (especially those interested in numerical modelling), and civil engineering with a focus on soil mechanics or geotechnics. Desirable skills include data analysis in python, granular mechanics, and numerical modelling, though these are not mandatory. The studentship is open to UK nationals, and in exceptional cases, international applicants with strong credentials.

Funding for this position covers 3.5 years of tuition and includes a tax-free UKRI stipend of approximately £20,780. The funding is awarded through a competitive process after a suitable candidate is identified. The application deadline is 10 May 2026. Interested candidates should email Dr Angus Pettey at [email protected] with the subject line 'Interface Micromechanics PhD' for further information and application instructions. For more details, visit the project page at the University of Nottingham's engineering website.