Publisher
source

University of Cambridge

Top university

Leverhulme Trust

PhD Studentship in Experimental Investigation of Phase Change Mechanisms in Aircraft Contrail Formation University of Cambridge in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Chemistry

Funding

Fully funded 3-year PhD studentship for home students. Includes tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate.

Deadline

Dec 31, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Cambridge

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Keywords

Chemistry
Environmental Science
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science
Aerospace Engineering
Physics

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About this position

PhD studentship at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Engineering on experimental investigation of phase change mechanisms in aircraft contrail formation.

This fully funded project is part of the Leverhulme Trust research programme Bridging the scale gap: From non-equilibrium thermodynamics to contrails. The research combines laboratory experiments with high-fidelity numerical modelling to study vapour-liquid-solid phase transitions in aircraft exhaust plumes, with relevance to sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen propulsion.

The PhD student will work on early contrail formation using a dedicated facility that creates contrail-relevant exhaust flows in a controlled cold environment. The project emphasizes advanced optical and laser-based diagnostics to measure condensation, freezing, and particle populations, alongside comparison with CFD and numerical simulations.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have or expect a good 2.1 degree in Engineering or a closely related subject, with strong interest in experimental fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Experience with multiphase flows, laboratory instrumentation, data acquisition, optical diagnostics, MATLAB, Python, or LabVIEW is helpful but not essential. Good English communication skills are expected.

Funding: 3-year fully funded studentship for home students, including tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate. Application fee of £20 is mentioned for the Cambridge Applicant Portal.

How to apply: submit a CV, academic transcripts, and a short motivation/background statement via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal. Potential supervisor named in the post: Dr Katharina Tegethoff. Closing date: 31 December 2026, with possible early closure if filled sooner.

Funding details

Fully funded 3-year PhD studentship for home students. Includes tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate.

What's required

Applicants should have or expect to obtain by the start date at least a good 2.1 degree in Engineering or a closely related subject. A strong interest in experimental fluid mechanics and thermodynamics is essential. Prior experience with multiphase and particle-laden flows is welcome but not required. Experience with laboratory instrumentation, data acquisition, or optical diagnostics is desirable but not essential. Familiarity with coding or data analysis such as MATLAB, Python, or LabVIEW would be an advantage. Good written and spoken English communication skills are expected.

How to apply

Apply via the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal using the provided postgraduate course link. Include a CV, academic transcripts, and a brief statement of motivation and relevant background. Applications may close early if the position is filled.

More information can be found here

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