Are you an engineer, scientist or mathematician with an interest in cutting edge research? If so, applications are now being invited for a 3½ year EPSRC Industrial CASE PhD studentship to work in the area of crystallisation mechanisms of solutions. This project has received significant additional funding from the nuclear sector and will be supervised by Drs Robert Hammond and Duncan Borman in the School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering (SPEME) at the University of Leeds.
Nuclear fuel reprocessing results in the production of metal nitrates in aqueous nitric acid. This project will focus on the mechanisms for crystallisation and accumulation of metal nitrate salts. Such a phase-separation process is both challenging and fascinating to model computationally and it is this challenge that will be addressed through the PhD programme. Working closely with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) the successful candidate will use state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics and kinetic models to investigate the crystallisation process with validation of the theoretical model from experiments conducted at NNL. The objective is to understand and characterise deposits of crystalline salts in terms of the spatial distribution of solids that evolves through time, and rates of accumulation of solid material. The modelling will be inherently multiscale in nature, draw down on expertise across a broad range of discipline areas, and provide an excellent opportunity with a holistic programme of research training.
Attendance at national and international training courses and conferences is strongly encouraged. The successful candidate will be further encouraged to contribute towards publication of their work in scientific and engineering journals and to help define opportunities within the project.
The closing date for applications is Friday 29th January 2010, with an expected starting date from 1st March 2010 (negotiable).
Value: For eligible candidates the studentship will provide an enhanced maintenance award of £17,000 in the first year; rising in subsequent years in accordance with EPSRC increments.
The studentship is open to UK and EU students only. Candidates who have normally resided in the UK for three years immediately prior to the start date of the programme are eligible for full financial support. This support covers university registration fees and maintenance. For other EU students not having resided in the UK for the previous three years, support covers University fees only. Funding will provide the opportunity to undertake work at the laboratories of the industrial sponsor for up to 4 weeks per year.
Entry Requirements: Applicants must have a good first degree in a numerate subject area such as Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics and/or an MSc from a taught postgraduate course in these subject areas.
How to apply:
Application Procedure: Formal applications for research degree study should be made either on line through the University website, or on the University’s application form. Please return the completed application form to the Research Degrees & Scholarships Office, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, or e-mail a scanned application to phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk
Please provide all the documents required as soon as possible, either included with your paper application or sent directly to the Graduate School Office if you apply online. Scanned copies are acceptable for a conditional offer; however you will need to provide originals or certified copies at registration. These will include your degree certificate(s), transcripts of marks achieved in previous degrees, plus evidence of English language qualifications if your first language is not English and you do not hold a degree from an English-speaking country. Please note, if you intend to send academic references we can only accept them if they are on official letter headed paper and contain an original signature and stamp; they must arrive in sealed envelopes. Alternatively, the Faculty will contact your named academic referees directly.
If you have any questions please contact our Graduate School Office.
e: phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk
t: +44 (0)113 343 8000
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