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Rob Hewson

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PhD Studentship: Fast Topology-Optimised Heat Exchangers for Circular Aircraft MRO Imperial College London in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Available

Deadline

Jan 4, 2027

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Country

United Kingdom

University

Imperial College London

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Keywords

Computer Science
Environmental Science
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science
Aerospace Engineering
Mathematics
Heat Transfer
Additive Manufacturing
Life Cycle Assessment
Circular Economy

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About this position

[Full coverage of tuition fees, a generous travel budget, and an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805.]

This PhD studentship is based in The Brahmal Institute at Imperial College London as part of the October 2027 Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation (DPSA). The cohort is framed around a systems view of aviation sustainability, with students working across themes that connect airports, airlines, air traffic management, aircraft and passengers through shared training, networking and outreach.

The project focuses on fast topology-optimised heat exchangers for circular aircraft MRO. The student will develop automated topology optimisation methods that adapt spare parts to available materials and additive manufacturing equipment while preserving performance. The research is positioned for future airport hydrogen infrastructure and circular maintenance practices, linking design adaptability with reliable aircraft maintenance and airport ground support.

Research activity will combine physics-based modelling, gradient-based optimisation and scientific machine learning to assess heat transfer, pressure loss and structural performance. The project also integrates phase-change thermal-fluid modelling with component durability analysis, inventory reduction and sustainability evaluation. Life-cycle assessment and inventory modelling will be used to study whether on-demand production can reduce waste, transport and environmental impacts while maintaining reliable operations.

The supervisors are Professor Rob Hewson and Dr Ajit Panesar.

The studentship sits within an interdisciplinary doctoral environment focused on sustainable aviation research, with specialist training and collaboration across the programme.

Funding details

Available

What's required

Applicants should have obtained or expect to obtain a 1st class honours Master’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering or an allied discipline such as Computational Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics. The advert also seeks candidates with the ability to develop and apply new concepts while prioritising work to deadlines, a creative approach to problem-solving, the ability to organise their own work with minimal supervision, an excellent background in numerical methods and scientific computing, excellent verbal and written technical communication skills, clear and succinct publication writing ability, and a demonstrated understanding of and passion for sustainability. Applications from both Home and International students are welcome.

How to apply

Submit your application through Imperial College London’s postgraduate doctoral application process and include reference BI0001. Address the application to The Brahmal Vasudevan Institute, search for ‘Aeronautics Research (PhD)’, and use ‘Brahmal Institute’ as the group. Attach a one-page A4 letter of interest answering the two required questions in place of a research statement.

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Professors

Prof. at Imperial College London

University Name
Country flag

United Kingdom

Research Interests

Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Computer Science

Materials Science

Mathematics