Richard Willden

This 3.5-year D.Phil. (PhD) studentship at the University of Oxford offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of tidal stream energy, a cutting-edge renewable energy technology. The project is part of the CoTide programme, the UK's largest tidal energy research initiative, funded by EPSRC and led by Oxford in collaboration with three other universities and over twenty industry partners. CoTide aims to deliver scalable tidal stream energy solutions through innovative design processes, integrated tools, and demonstration projects, supporting the transition to Net Zero and climate change objectives. The successful candidate will join the Environmental Fluid Mechanics group within the Department of Engineering Science, working alongside a diverse team of over twenty-five engineers and researchers. Research areas include turbine hydrodynamics and design, resource modelling, naval architecture, ocean engineering, system optimisation, and control co-design. The project involves advanced numerical modelling and optimisation techniques, supported by high performance computing and experimental facilities such as wave flumes. Applicants should have a strong academic background in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related field, with interests and preferably experience in fluid mechanics or offshore renewable energy. Essential skills include experimental investigation and scientific programming (Matlab, Python, Fortran, C/C++), as well as excellent English communication abilities. Experience in computational or experimental fluid dynamics is desirable but not required. The studentship is open to both UK and international applicants, with course fees covered at the Home/ROI rate (£10,470 p.a. for 2026/7) and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 p.a. for 2026/7). International applicants should note that only Home rate fees are covered. The application deadline is noon on 2nd December 2025, with the programme starting in October 2026. For further details about the CoTide project and the Environmental Fluid Mechanics group, visit cotide.ac.uk and eng.ox.ac.uk/efm/ . Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Prof. Richard Willden ( [email protected] ). Candidates must submit a graduate application form via the University of Oxford website, quoting reference ENGCI_RW in all correspondence and their application.

[Course fees covered at Home/ROI rate (£10,470 p.a. in 2026/7) plus UKRI stipend (£20,780 p.a. in 2026/7). Fees for international students only covered at Home rate.] The University of Oxford invites applications for a fully funded 3.5-year D.Phil. (PhD) studentship in Tidal Stream Energy, commencing October 2026. This position is part of the flagship EPSRC-funded CoTide research programme, which focuses on developing scalable solutions for tidal stream energy using hydrokinetic turbines. The CoTide project is the largest tidal energy research initiative in the UK, involving four universities and over twenty industry partners, and aims to accelerate the deployment of innovative renewable energy technologies to support climate change objectives and the transition to Net Zero. Supervised by a team of leading academics—Prof. Richard Willden, Prof. Chris Vogel, Prof. Tom Adcock, Prof. Paul Goulart, Dr Amanda Smyth, Dr Federico Zilic de Arcos, and Dr Emma Edwards—the successful candidate will join the Environmental Fluid Mechanics group and work within a vibrant Oxford-based team of over twenty-five engineers. Research areas include turbine hydrodynamics and design, resource modelling, naval architecture, ocean engineering, system optimisation, and control co-design. The project leverages advanced numerical modelling, optimisation techniques, high performance computing, and experimental facilities such as the current and wave flume. Applicants should have a strong academic background in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related discipline, with interests and preferably experience in fluid mechanics or offshore renewable energy. Essential requirements include a first class honours or strong upper second class degree, ability to conduct experimental investigations and/or scientific programming (Matlab, Python, Fortran, C/C++), and excellent English communication skills. Experience in computational or experimental fluid dynamics is desirable but not essential. The studentship is open to both UK and international applicants, though tuition fees are covered only at the Home/ROI rate (£10,470 per annum for 2026/7). A tax-free maintenance stipend is provided at the UKRI rate (£20,780 per annum for 2026/7). Further details about fee status and eligibility are available on the University website. The successful candidate will be expected to submit a research proposal as part of their application, identifying their specific area of interest within the project scope. To apply, candidates must submit a graduate application form via the University of Oxford website, quoting ENGCI_RW in all correspondence and their application. Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Prof. Richard Willden at [email protected]. The application deadline is noon on 2nd December 2025, with the studentship starting in October 2026. For more information about the CoTide project and the Environmental Fluid Mechanics group, visit cotide.ac.uk and eng.ox.ac.uk/efm.