Fully Funded PhD in Lubricants for Electric Vehicles and Sustainable Energy Systems University of Leeds in United Kingdom

PhD opportunity at the University of Leeds in lubricants for electric vehicles and sustainable energy systems, offered in collaboration with BP-Castrol and based in the Institute of Functional Surfaces, School of Mechanical Engineering.

This project sits at the intersection of tribology, materials science, surface engineering, surface science, and sustainable mobility. The research will investigate how electrical stresses affect lubricated contacts in electrified systems such as EV drivetrains and wind turbine gearboxes, with a focus on lubricant degradation, electrical discharge events, surface damage, and protective surface layers.

The successful candidate will gain experience in advanced tribological testing, lubricant analysis, electrochemical methods, materials characterisation, and surface characterisation. The project also offers industrial collaboration, mentoring, and possible secondment opportunities with BP-Castrol.

Funding: fully funded PhD studentship with full academic fees and a UKRI-level tax-free maintenance grant of £21,805 for 3.5 years, plus training and support. There is one funded place available.

Eligibility: UK applicants only / Home fee status only. Applicants should normally have at least a first-class or upper second-class UK Bachelors Honours degree, or equivalent, in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline. A first-class degree and/or a Master's degree may strengthen competitiveness. If English is not your first language, IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is required.

Application window: deadline 30 June 2026; project start date 1 October 2026. Applications are reviewed after the deadline, and only complete applications are considered.

How to apply: submit a formal research degree application through the University of Leeds website, select Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate, choose EPSRC DTP – Engineering, and clearly state the project title and proposed supervisor Dr Farnaz Motamen Salehi. Required documents include transcripts, a personal statement, and a CV.