During take-off birds accelerate primarily through from the ground reaction force, with aerodynamics playing a lesser role.In landing things are quite different; birds use mainly aerodynamic drag on the wings to decelerate, with the legs bringing them finally to rest after touchdown. These manoeuvres are characterised by the coordination of the wings and legs to manipulate aerodynamic and ground-reaction forces. They are complex, varied, and rapid.Take-off and landing is understood relatively well in terms of biomechanical studies and kinematic analysis of individual species. But there exists limited understanding of the underlying mechanics and stability of these systems. The mixture of  aerodynamic and ground-reaction forces and moments makes the stability problem unique to birds, and a rich scientific problem to address.This project will aim to unearth new means of tackling the stability problem that couples both aerodynamic and terrestrial motion stability. The techniques for doing so will include theoretical models of varying degrees of complexity, and also  physical flight experiments. The impact of the project will be to provide new fundamental understanding of the evolution of bird structures and geometry, and of the dynamic behaviours that birds exhibit in nature.The project would be of particular interest to applicants with experience and interest in theoretical and/or numerical modelling, and practical experimentation. Examples of some of the related work we have done in this field can be seen here:https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/biomimetics/research/https://www.benparslew.com/The PhD will start in September 2024. Before you applyWe strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this project before you apply.How to applyTo be considered for this project you’ll need to complete a formal application through our online application portal.When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, how you’re planning on funding your research, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing [email protected], diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).Funding:At Manchester we offer a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level, to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.For more information, visit our funding page or search our funding database for specific scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.This project is also eligible for the Osborne Reynolds top-up Scholarship which provides an additional £1500 per year top-up to other funding sources for outstanding candidates. Successful applicants will be automatically considered for this top-up.