PhD Studentship - High Throughput Kinetics Data for Steel Optimisation (Fixed Term) University of Cambridge in United Kingdom

[Full funding for 4 years covering a personal maintenance stipend starting at £20,780 per annum with a top up of £5,500 per annum from Tata Steel. Fees covered for UK/home students; exceptional international candidates may be eligible for an International Fee Bursary.] This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge focuses on high throughput kinetics data for steel optimisation, with a particular emphasis on the reliable production of electric arc furnace (EAF) processed steels. The project is based in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, within the Structural Materials Group—a dynamic research team with expertise spanning alloy design, microstructure-property relationships, phase transformations, and advanced materials processing.

The research will employ synchrotron X-ray diffraction to monitor the evolving crystallography in steel samples across a range of cooling rates and isothermal dwells. This technique allows for direct measurement of crystal structures and is sensitive to low volume fractions, providing a robust method for quantifying phase fractions and lattice parameter evolution. Ancillary microstructural examination using electron microscopy will be used to confirm phase identifications. The data generated will be compared with existing transformation kinetics models to assess their reliability and, where necessary, refine them.

The project is supervised by Professor Howard Stone and Dr David Collins. The studentship offers a personal maintenance stipend starting at £20,780 per annum, with an additional top up of £5,500 per annum from Tata Steel, and covers fees for UK/home students. Exceptional international candidates may be eligible for an International Fee Bursary.

Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a good UK Master's degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant science subject such as Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering. Candidates should be self-motivated, able to take ownership of their research, and possess strong communication skills. Training in all computational and experimental methods will be provided, though relevant prior experience is advantageous.

Applications should be submitted via the University of Cambridge postgraduate application portal, including a short research statement, CV, publication list, and contact details for two referees. The closing date for applications is 2 December 2025, with interviews to follow shortly after. Early applications are encouraged as the position may be filled once a suitable candidate is identified.

The University of Cambridge is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from all sections of society.