Thulasi Mylvganam
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Sustainability-focused agent-based modelling for aircraft design with manufacturing flexibility Imperial College London in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Available
Deadline
Jan 4, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
Imperial College London
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About this position
This PhD sits within Imperial College London’s Brahmal Institute and its October 2027 Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation (DPSA). The programme brings together an interdisciplinary cohort working on aviation sustainability from a systems perspective, with shared learning, specialist training, networking, and outreach as part of a wider effort to support system-wide change in aviation.
The project focuses on aircraft design as a lever for sustainability and production resilience. It develops agent-based, multi-fidelity optimisation methods that treat manufacturing flexibility as a design variable. By combining multi-agent simulation, machine learning, and structural optimisation, the research aims to reduce ramp-up delays, aircraft-on-ground risk, and redesign cost at scale.
The successful student will work with expertise spanning structural optimisation, aircraft design, machine learning, and design for manufacturing. The project is framed around more resilient and sustainable aircraft production, linking computational methods with the realities of how aircraft are designed and built.
The supervisory team comprises Dr Thulasi Mylvganam, Dr Ajit Panesar, Professor Rob Hewson, and Dr Rhea Liem.
The PhD is based at Imperial College London within a research environment centred on sustainable aviation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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 a related discipline such as Computational Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics. They should be able to develop and apply new concepts while prioritising work to deadlines, have a creative approach to problem-solving, organise their own work with minimal supervision, have an excellent background in numerical methods and scientific computing, communicate technical work clearly in writing and verbally, and demonstrate understanding of and passion for sustainability. Applications are open to both Home and International students.
How to apply
Submit your application through Imperial College London’s application process and include the reference BI0002. Address the application to The Brahmal Vasudevan Institute, select ‘Aeronautics Research (PhD)’ in the programme search bar, and use ‘Brahmal Institute’ as the group. Upload a one-page letter of interest in place of a research statement answering the two sustainability and fit questions.
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Professors
Prof. at Imperial College London
United Kingdom
Research Interests
Aerospace Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Materials Science
Mathematics
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Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.