PhD opportunity: nanoscale ice dynamics at the University of Edinburgh

Fully-funded PhD Scholarship in Nanoscale Ice Dynamics

The University of Edinburgh is offering a fully-funded 3½-year PhD scholarship in the nanoscale dynamics of ice formation. The project is to carry out computational molecular simulations of the nucleation of different structures of ice crystals from water vapour in the air flow over a chilled surface. The aim is to investigate which chemical and structural properties of the surface inhibit the nucleation of ice, or preferentially nucleate morphologies of ice crystal that are least harmful to the performance of a macro system (e.g. wind turbines, aircraft control surfaces etc.).

This opportunity is funded by a flagship £3.4M EPSRC Programme Grant awarded to Edinburgh University, Warwick University, and Daresbury Laboratory. See www.micronanoflows.ac.uk.

The research project is in collaboration with Akzo Nobel Coatings Ltd., and will involve the PhD student on secondment a few weeks each year at the Akzo Nobel research lab in Gateshead, UK.

Environment
Edinburgh University is ranked in the top 20 universities in the world, and in the top 5 in the UK (source: QS World University Rankings). In the School of Engineering’s submission to the last Research Excellence Framework (REF2014), 94% of our activity was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, and we are 1st in the UK for Research Power – making Edinburgh the
largest concentration of leading engineering research in the UK (source: THE). You will be supervised by Prof Jason Reese (jason.reese@ed.ac.uk) and Dr Matthew Borg (matthew.borg@ed.ac.uk), and you will join a very active, friendly and collaborative research group in Edinburgh, currently comprising 4 postdocs and 3 PhD students. Our group makes extensive use of ARCHER – the UK’s national supercomputer, which is based in Edinburgh. Your training during this PhD will give you the skills and experience to become a future leader in either academia or industry.

Applicant Requirements
A 1st or 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in applied maths, computer science, an engineering science, physics, or a related subject with a strong mathematical content. Any experience with C++ and/or the OpenFOAM software and/or the LAMMPS software would be an advantage.

Stipend and Fees
The annual stipend is £14,553 (tax free), for 3½ years, with all university fees paid. The scholarship is intended for EU/UK students – any non-EU/UK applicants need to say in their application how they will pay the additional fees.

To Apply
Email a full CV, academic transcripts, and cover letter explaining your interest in pursuing this PhD research, with the names and contact details of two referees to Prof Jason Reese jason.reese@ed.ac.uk, with ‘PhD Application’ in the subject line.

Closing Date 24 March 2017

Start Date by arrangement, in the period: 01/04/17 to 30/09/17