This vacancy is open to employees of the University of Nottingham only.

The Mechanical and Aerospace Systems (MAS) group requires a Mechanical Design Engineer to support a wide range of experimental research across the group through high-quality and precision design. The MAS group has a large and friendly intra-disciplinary team of researchers, engineers, technicians, support staff, and academics who work together to deliver research from fundamental to high level technology readiness level (TRL).

The role will involve applying a wide range of professional engineering skills relating to the design, manufacture, commissioning, and use of test facilities in support of MAS research. The successful applicant will have experience in the design of machines as well as experimental setups, and they will have a track record of working with suppliers and sub-contractors to deliver precision engineered components, assemblies, and systems. The role holder will have a significant role in the design and manufacture of research facilities and test programmes.

A degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent is essential.

What we offer:

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment

• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.

• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities

• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

Your working hours will be 36.25 hours per week. This role is not open to fractional or part time work and the successful candidate is expected to be primarily based in the lab and office on-site.

This role is fixed term until 31 December 2027.

Please contact Sarah Walker (s.walker@nottingham.ac.uk) if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Due to the nature of this post, all offers of employment will be subject to the appropriate level of security clearance and an independent verification of unspent convictions obtained by means of a Basic Disclosure Certificate obtained from Disclosure Scotland, or an overseas police check.

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details.

#LI-DNI

#INT

Closing Date: 14 Oct 2026
Category: Internal Only

Closing Date: 14 Oct 2026
Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)

This vacancy is open to employees of the University of Nottingham only. 

We are looking for an organised and proactive Education and Student Experience (ESE) Manager to contribute to the continual review, monitoring and development of Faculty-wide activity to improve the student experience, and support for staff.   

You will work closely with the Senior Education and Student Experience Manager, and wider ESE team to lead activity in a number of key strategic areas, including Course representatives, Staff Student Forums and Student Societies and groups. You will convene and be a key member of relevant Faculty of Engineering student experience committees and groups (e.g. the Faculty Student Experience Action Group).  

You will lead the operational ESE management and support activity for teaching departments across the faculty, acting as the lead ESE Manager for two departments. You will have direct line management responsibility for a small team of ESE Initiatives Officers and will lead the team to ensure the successful delivery of key areas, such as welcome and arrival, student experience events and assessments/feedback.   

Candidates must have a degree or equivalent, demonstrable experience of managing a team, excellent change management skills and excellent oral and written communication skills.  Proven influencing and negotiation skills alongside working with stakeholders to gather feedback, propose and implement changes will also be essential. An understanding of the current challenges affecting students’ education and experience is also important. 

Your working hours will be 36.25 hours per week. If you are interested in part-time work (minimum 25.5 hours per week), we encourage you to apply. Please specify your preferred hours in your application. We may also consider job share arrangements. 

Requests for secondment from internal candidates will be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.  Further information is available in the role profile. 

What we offer

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• A hybrid working arrangement with the blended approach of home and office working each week
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (or pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.
• Our reward scheme grants bonuses of numerous values for excellent work
• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

What next-

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details. Requests for secondment from internal candidates will be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Please contact Emma Hopkins (emma.hopkins@nottingham.ac.uk) if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

#LI-DNI

#INT

Closing Date: 11 Oct 2026
Category: Internal Only

Candidates should hold a PhD in Electronic, Biomedical or Optical Engineering.

Essential knowledge and experience required:

• Development and implementation of instrumentation for monitoring during pregnancy 
• Application of fibre optic sensors in the field of healthcare
• Implementation of instrumentation in an MRI environment
• Electronic circuit design
• An understanding of medical device regulations to ensure compliance and safe use of the technology
• Data capture, recording of data and report writing to a professional standard.

The successful candidate must possess:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Enthusiasm, motivation and drive to embed new knowledge and to take full ownership of the project 
• Excellent interpersonal skills

The Optics and Photonics Research Group is one of the largest research groups in the Faculty of Engineering with 16 academics and three Research Council funded Fellows. We pride ourselves on being able to work on ideas from the basic science right through to application in advanced manufacturing and healthcare.

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details.

This post is a fixed term 24-month contract, your working hours will be (36.25 hours per week). If you are interested in part-time work (minimum 20 hours per week), we encourage you to apply. Please specify your preferred hours in your application. We may also consider job share arrangements.

Please contact Prof Steve Morgan steve.morgan@nottingham.ac.uk  if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 14 Oct 2026
Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)

Applications are invited for a PhD position at the University of Nottingham addressing the specific engineering details of the contact layer created during the Linear Friction Welding (LFW) of Titanium alloys. The successful candidate will have a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject.

This CASE studentship will attract a stipend of £25,000 per annum for four years. The position arises from a long-standing engineering research relationship between the University of Nottingham and Rolls-Royce plc. The University of Nottingham hosts two of the (~30) University Technology Centres (UTCs) used by the company as the main engines of its engineering research and development. Nottingham’s UTC in gas turbine transmissions systems will host this studentship and the candidate will sit within a community of ~20 PhD students at various stages of their study.

The attachment of blades to discs using solid-state joining is a key factor in achieving cost-effective, high performance and low-weight fan and compressor stages in aero-engines. LFW is an established joining process utilised by R-R to manufacture Titanium blisks across a range of engine types. R-Rs strategy requires the continued exploitation of this technology to a wider range of Titanium alloys, including dissimilar joints.   The LFW process has been developed to ensure high quality joints are produced over a broad range of welding conditions commensurate with manufacturing capability; however, the quality of joints made in more advanced Titanium alloys and dissimilar material joints is ensured by consistent flash extrusion and flow from the interface contact layer, which is in turn linked to the transient behaviour of the process, process stability and the interaction between the part and the tooling.

This project will develop the fundamental understanding of the thermo-mechanical effects and material flow within the high strain-rate/high temperature interface contact layer created during LFW of Titanium alloys and the links to key process variables and machine/tooling behaviour.  This study will be undertaken using computational simulation, supported by experimental investigations using test welds and novel material characterisation methods.

This project is available from 1st October 2026. Applications are accepted until post is filled.   Informal inquiries can be made via email to Dr James Rouse (james.rouse@nottingham.ac.uk).

Eligibility: Due to funding restrictions this position is only available to UK or EU candidates.

Closing Date: 21 Sep 2026
Category: Studentships

Applications are invited for a Research Associate/Fellow position to join an exciting research project focused on developing sustainable biocatalytic processes. The project will investigate the creation of novel wool-based supports for enzyme immobilisation and their application in the synthesis of high-value chemicals, including terpene esters and pharmaceutical intermediates. The successful candidate will design, prepare and characterise enzyme-support materials, evaluate their catalytic performance, and explore their use in a range of biotransformations. The role will also involve analysing reaction performance, interpreting experimental data, and contributing to publications and future funding opportunities. This is an excellent opportunity to work at the interface of materials science, chemistry, and biotechnology, contributing to the development of green manufacturing technologies.

About the Team

You will join a dynamic and interdisciplinary research group with expertise spanning biocatalysis, sustainable chemistry, reaction engineering and materials development. The team provides a collaborative and supportive environment that values innovation, diversity, and scientific excellence. The successful candidate will work closely with academic colleagues and research students and will have opportunities to contribute to mentoring and training activities within the group.

About You

Candidates should hold, or be close to obtaining, a PhD (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Materials Science, or a related discipline.

You should be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in laboratory-based research and experimental design.
• Knowledge of biocatalysis, enzyme immobilisation, or related areas.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with chemical or biochemical characterisation techniques.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

What We Offer

The University of Nottingham is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment where staff can thrive. We offer generous annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays and University closure days, including the Christmas and New Year period. Staff benefit from access to training and professional development opportunities, career progression support, and a wide range of health and wellbeing services. Additional benefits include staff discounts, travel schemes, fitness and recreational facilities, and participation in a vibrant international research community. We are proud to foster an environment where innovation, collaboration, and individual development are encouraged and valued.

What Next

This is a full-time position (36.25 hours per week) offered on a fixed-term contract for one year.

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy, please click ‘Apply Now’ and complete your application.

Closing Date: 05 Oct 2026
Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)

Through a multidisciplinary research approach the aim is to establish fully integrated motor drives as a key enabling technology for sustainable electricity generation, high-efficiency industrial systems, lightweight transport applications, and significant reductions in manufacturing-related CO₂ emissions. The ambition is to develop innovative technological solutions that reduce energy losses and minimise environmental impact throughout the product life cycle by:

• Reducing material usage during manufacture.
• Improving electrical system efficiency and power-to-weight ratios during operation.
• Enhancing recyclability and resource recovery at end of life.

Two PhD studentships are available to address one or more of the following scientific challenges:

1. Mechanical Integration

Structural and functional integration requires the development of novel joining technologies, motor winding arrangements, and 3D-printed structures capable of mounting semiconductor devices within the motor architecture.

2. Thermal Management

The harsh thermal environment within integrated motor drives demands innovative design and manufacturing solutions. Advanced additive manufacturing techniques will be explored to improve thermal management across the entire system.

3. Electromagnetic Management

The use of wide-bandgap semiconductor devices can significantly reduce the size of passive components within power electronic converters. However, their high switching speeds can introduce challenges related to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and motor winding degradation. Novel converter topologies, EMI mitigation strategies, and advanced winding technologies will therefore be investigated.

4. Advanced Control and Modelling

Multi-modular distributed motor-drive architectures and ultra-fast semiconductor devices present significant control challenges. Research may involve FPGA-based control platforms, advanced microcontrollers, distributed control algorithms, and artificial intelligence techniques, including neural networks and evolutionary optimisation methods, to enable the efficient operation of integrated converter-motor systems.

Research environment

Applications are invited to join the Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Group at the University of Nottingham. Based within a recently established £18 million research facility on Jubilee Campus, PEMC is internationally recognised as a leading centre for research in power electronics, electrical machines, and control engineering.

Entry requirements

Applicants should possess:

• A Bachelor degree (2:1 or above) or a Master's degree (MSc, MEng, MPhys, MRes, or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or physical sciences discipline such as electrical and electronic engineering, mechatronics, physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a closely related subject.
• A strong background or relevant experience in electrical machines, power electronics, control systems, thermal management, or related fields (desirable).
• Experience using simulation software such as COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB, and/or Ansys.
• Programming, coding, and experimental hardware skills (desirable).
• Strong analytical and mathematical capabilities.
• A passion for research and a willingness to learn.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and scientific writing skills.

Application process

To apply, please email the following documents to liliana.delillo@nottingham.ac.uk:

• A cover letter outlining your motivation for applying to this project.
• A curriculum vitae (CV) detailing your academic background, research experience, and relevant technical skills.
• Academic transcripts from all qualifying degree programmes.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. The successful applicant must subsequently complete a formal online application through the University of Nottingham admissions portal.

Eligibility

Due to funding restrictions, this studentship is available only to UK applicants.

Closing Date: 30 Nov 2026
Category: Studentships

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Application Engineer to join the Power Electronics, Machines and Control Institute (PEMC) at the University of Nottingham. This is a hands-on engineering role at the heart of world-leading research in power electronics and drive systems. Day to day, you will be designing novel power converter topologies, writing and validating drive control code, building and commissioning hardware, and running experiments on PEMC's state-of-the-art test facilities. You will work directly alongside researchers and leading industrial partners, including TT Electronics, Transformers and Rectifiers, Siemens, and NEMA, contributing across the full project lifecycle from requirements capture and simulation through to system integration, test and reporting.

About the Team

The PEMC institute has grown exponentially and now has over 200 members, 24 academics and circa 130 PhD students, researchers, and engineers. The group offers state-of-the-art facilities spanning 3500m², capable of handling up to 5MW for construction and testing, and is world leading in power electronics, machine drives and control for aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and industrial applications. We are a diverse, international team and we believe that a breadth of backgrounds and perspectives makes us stronger. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all cultures, ethnicities, genders and beliefs, and welcome those who bring different experiences and ways of thinking to our work.

About You

We are looking for a motivated and practical engineer with a passion for power electronics. You will need: proven design skills applied to power electronics converters and drive systems from concept through to hardware; a track record of writing power electronics control code in C or equivalent; solid understanding of power converter design including topology selection, gate drive design and EMC; practical lab skills in converter characterisation, instrumentation and data acquisition; and experience of reliability assessment for power semiconductor devices. If you enjoy solving difficult engineering problems, working in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment and seeing your designs come to life on the bench, this role is for you.

Reporting to the Professor of Power Electronics, you will collaborate with academics, researchers, technical services colleagues and industrial partners. You will be self-motivated, well organised and comfortable working on complex, ambiguous engineering challenges, bringing clarity and practical problem-solving to every stage of the project.

What we offer

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment.
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (or pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days, including closure between Christmas and New Year.
• Our reward scheme grants bonuses of numerous values for excellent work.
• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities.
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, visit our benefits website.

Our University is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We warmly welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. We welcome applications from UK, Europe and from across the globe. For more information on the support we offer our international colleagues, see our Moving to Nottingham Page.

For successful international applicants, we provide financial support for your visa and the immigration health surcharge, plus an interest-free loan to help cover the cost of immigration-related expenses for any dependants accompanying you to the UK. For more information please see the our webpage on Financial support for visas and the immigration health surcharge.

Additional Information

This post is available on a fixed term basis for 1 year. Your working hours will be 36.25 hours per week (full time). If you are interested in part-time work (minimum hours to be agreed), we encourage you to apply, please specify your preferred hours in your application. Job share arrangements may also be considered.

What Next

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details.

Requests for secondment from internal candidates will be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Rishad Ahmed, email: rishad.ahmed@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 11 Oct 2026
Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)

The role will involve applying a wide range of professional engineering skills relating to the design, manufacture, commissioning, and use of test facilities in support of MAS research. The successful applicant will have experience in the design of machines as well as experimental setups, and they will have a track record of working with suppliers and sub-contractors to deliver precision engineered components, assemblies, and systems. The role holder will have a significant role in implementing and managing complex industrial research projects and will provide support and supervision to others within the team.

A degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent is essential. A PhD in mechanical engineering or similar, professional engineering qualifications, Chartered Engineer status and project management qualifications are desirable.

What we offer:

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (pro rata if applicable) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.
• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

Your working hours will be 36.25 hours per week. This role is not open to fractional or part time work and the successful candidate is expected to be primarily based in the lab and office on-site.

This role is fixed term until 31 December 2027.

Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.  

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply for this vacancy please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details.

Please contact Sarah Walker (s.walker@nottingham.ac.uk) if you have further questions about this role. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Previous applicants in the last 6 months need not apply

Closing Date: 05 Oct 2026
Category: Administrative, Professional and Managerial (APM)

Background: The transition towards electrified automotive and aerospace transport demands electric motors with increasing power density, efficiency and operating voltage without compromising reliability. These trends, together with wide-bandgap converters and fast-switching voltage waveforms, impose increasingly severe electrical stresses on winding insulation. The challenge is particularly critical in aerospace applications, where reduced air pressure can significantly increase the risk of partial discharge (PD) and accelerate insulation degradation. This PhD studentship will investigate and enhance the reliability of next-generation winding insulation systems, including emerging hairpin and Litz-wire technologies, under representative electrical, thermal, pressure and mechanical stresses. The successful candidate will combine extensive experimental testing with insulation lifetime modelling to study PD inception, degradation and endurance, and to develop approaches for predicting insulation lifetime under realistic operating conditions. The research will support improved insulation design and qualification for reliable next-generation electric motors, contributing to safer, higher-performance automotive and aerospace electrification. 

Applications for this PhD position are invited at the Power Electronics and Machines Centre, University of Nottingham. Based in a recently built £18M facility at Jubilee Campus, the Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Group is globally renowned and one of the leading in its field. 

Entry Requirements: For this position, we are actively looking for candidates with 

• A master’s degree (e.g. MSc, MEng, MPhys, MRes or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or physical sciences discipline, such as electrical/electronic engineering, general engineering, mechatronics, physics, materials science/engineering, mechanical/aerospace engineering, or a closely related subject, is essential.
• A strong background or relevant experience in high-voltage engineering, electrical machines, power electronics, dielectric/insulation materials, or related areas would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of numerical/FEM simulation tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB.
• Programming/coding and experimental hardware skills are desirable.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills.
• Passion for research and willingness to learn.
• Good presentation, communication and scientific writing skills.

Application details: To apply for this PhD position, please email the following documents to Hadi.Naderiallaf@nottingham.ac.uk 

• Cover letter outlining your motivation behind applying for this project. 
• Curriculum vitae (CV) detailing your academic background, research experience, and relevant skills.
• Academic transcripts of your qualifying degrees.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, and the successful candidate will be required to make a formal online application through the University portal.

Eligibility: Due to funding restrictions this position is only available to UK candidates.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr. Hadi Naderiallaf (Hadi.Naderiallaf@nottingham.ac.uk) We look forward to hearing from you. 

Closing Date: 01 Dec 2026
Category: Studentships

Programme Length: Four years 

Contract Type: Full-time 

Prospective Start Date: October 2026

The positions are filled in a first-in, first-served basis therefore we encourage early expression of interest. 

Net²Zero Centre for Doctoral Training 

The EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (CDT in Net²Zero) is an equal partnership between Aston University (lead), University of Nottingham, Queen’s University Belfast, and University of Warwick. Through cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration, this CDT aims to tackle global challenges related to climate change and sustainability.  

Our four-year doctoral programme is training the next generation of research leaders tasked to remove greenhouse gases from the environment.  The CDT in Net²Zero focuses on the use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal (or capture) of CO₂ from the atmosphere, with the potential to create new sources of fuels and chemicals. The centre’s expertise covers Direct Air Capture and CO₂ Storage (DACCS), CO₂ utilisation, biochar synthesis and utilisation, biomass transition to materials and chemicals, and biomass to energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) etc. 

Training and Development

Through our research training programme, you will be able to: 

• Develop a network with doctoral researchers, academia, government and industry. 
• Access to cutting-edge facilities and opportunities for international collaboration, preparing you for a successful career in academia, industry, or policymaking. 
• Carry out a training programme covering practical engineering, communication, entrepreneurship, and business skills to prepare students for diverse sectors. 
• The CDT facilitates direct contact between students, industrial partners, policy makers, and third sector organisations to support future careers. You will have the opportunity of a three-month placement with industry, research collaborators or policymakers. 

Project Overview and Background

As global energy demand rises, reducing carbon emissions has become increasingly challenging. Gas‑turbine‑based power generation continues to play a central role in electricity supply, yet it is also a major source of CO₂ emissions and contributes to grid instability as renewable penetration increases. Achieving national net zero targets require integrated solutions that simultaneously decarbonise existing infrastructure, enhance grid flexibility and enable the production of sustainable energy carriers.

Hybrid energy systems offer a promising pathway, but current designs face important limitations. Many studies depend heavily on electricity‑intensive Power‑to‑X routes while underutilising thermochemical biomass conversion and advanced solar‑thermal technologies. Emerging carbon‑capture approaches such as electrochemically mediated amine regeneration show strong potential for flexible, low‑temperature operation, yet they remain largely unexplored within fully integrated hybrid systems. Additionally, current techno-economic feasibility studies rely on steady‑state modelling and overlook the dynamic behaviour under variable grid and weather conditions. These gaps restrict the deployment of high‑efficiency, multi‑source energy platforms capable of adaptive and resilient performance.

This PhD project aims to develop and evaluate a novel hybrid system that integrates gas turbines, low-temperature carbon capture, biomass gasification, and advanced solar thermal applications to enable carbon-negative fuel production and grid support. The research will involve thermodynamic modelling, transient simulation under UK climate and grid demand profiles, economic assessment, life‑cycle analysis, and AI‑driven multi‑objective optimisation. Although the initial focus will be on gas turbines, the hybridisation framework developed in the project will be designed to be transferable to other industrial and power‑generation applications, including industrial furnaces (e.g. steel, cement) and waste‑to‑energy plants. The overarching objective is to design intelligent control strategies that coordinate energy flows across the hybrid system, maximise CO₂ utilisation, and demonstrate the technical and economic viability of a closed‑loop carbon platform suitable for large‑scale deployment.

Person Specification

•   Motivation, creativity, and resourcefulness
•  A mature approach to learning
•  Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve:
  1.  A Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline with an award of First Class or 2.1 
•  Experience in, or willingness to learn modelling and simulation tools such as:
  1.  MATLAB
  2.  Python
  3.  Engineering Equation Solver
  4.  Aspen Plus
  5.  TRNSYS
•  A solid foundation in thermodynamics, process modelling, programming or energy systems

Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential, as the successful candidate will collaborate closely with other researchers, contribute to high‑quality journal publications, and present findings at international conferences. We welcome applicants who are enthusiastic about interdisciplinary research and eager to develop advanced technical and analytical capabilities.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of the Net²Zero CDT and we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in a higher education setting.  These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women.

Financial Support

• Four-year studentships with a tax-free stipend at UKRI rate (£21,805 per year for 2026/27) 
• Paid tuition fees
• A generous research training support grant. 

Overseas Applicants 

This opportunity is currently open for home fee status candidates only. You can find the rules for home fee eligibility here.

How to Apply 

All applicants should first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form here (you only need to submit one Expression of Interest regardless of the number of projects you are interested in). Successful applicants will be invited to submit a formal application via the NottinghamHub. 

When submitting an EOI form, please include the following information: 

1. Your personal details for processing the application.  
2. A copy of your passport and, where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status. 
3. Your personal characteristics, for monitoring purposes only. 
4. Your Academic background.  We will require English language copies (or screen captures) of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any bachelor's degrees. 
5. If English is not your first language, you will be required to present evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. You can submit the evidence at a later stage. the evidence at a later stage. 
6. Your research background and experience.  
7. Expressions of Interest will be assessed against the following criteria:

       A. Candidate’s motivation and experience: The extent to which the candidate’s expertise, experience, and ambitions align with the goals of the Net2Zero CDT programme. 

       B. If you are shortlisted, you will have the opportunity to meet the potential supervisors.

These studentships are open until filled, and hence early applications are strongly encouraged. 

Contact Information 

For general application or process enquiries, please contact: 

• Md Ashif Chy (Senior CDT Administrator) at Ashif.chy2@nottingham.ac.uk  

For academic enquiries, please contact:

• Dr Ioanna Dimitriou (main supervisor) at Ioanna.Dimitriou@nottingham.ac.uk
• Prof. Hao Liu (Co-Director of Net2Zero CDT) at liu.hao@nottingham.ac.uk  
• Prof. Eleanor Binner (Co-Director of Net2Zero CDT) at eleanor.binner@nottingham.ac.uk

Closing Date: 30 Sep 2026
Category: Studentships

This exciting opportunity is based within the thriving Optics and Photonics Research Group in Faculty of Engineering which conducts cutting edge research spanning exploration to translation, with curiosity driven projects all the way through to application in the clinic.   

Vision

We are seeking PhD student that is motivated and enthusiastic and keen to push the boundaries of what is currently possible when imaging with an optical microscope. Combing the latest in optical developments with the recent surge in AI, this project aims image the centre of a live intact root for the first time. Something that is currently not possible.

Motivation 

This project will address a long-standing issue in plant biology: the inability to image the centre of live, intact, plant roots. The ability to observe dynamic cellular processes at the centre of a live root for the first time will unlock entirely new lines of biological inquiry, crucial for areas such as sustainable agriculture and food security. Such an imaging system would allow for studies of a plant’s resilience to drought, salinity, and water logging, as well as responses to fungal infections and nanoparticle uptake. It is very common that new optical microscopy techniques are developed to image mammalian tissue, and that these approaches are very slow to translate across to plant biosciences where the impact could be huge and as a result exciting opportunities get missed.  

When we use light to image deep into complex samples there is a common problem that occurs – the light gets distorted and scattered by the structures present in the sample and as a result a nice quality focus and hence a nice image cannot be produced at depth into the sample. At Nottingham we have been working on this problem for several years and have developed methods that shape the incoming light with the equal but opposite distortion to that imposed by the sample to produce a high-quality image deep into the sample of interest. Recently we have been using AI and machine learning to predict the distortion present and significantly speed up this correction process.

This PhD project will take the latest in AI-informed wavefront correction techniques and tailor them to imaging deep into plant roots. It will use a range of state-of-the-art optical microscopes based in the Optics and Photonics Research Group in the Faculty of Engineering, plus those housed in Plant Biosciences at the Sutton Bonnington campus. Data sets will be generated using simulated and experimental data and these will be used to train networks to predict the common distortions that occur when imaging into plant roots. From here we can either correct for these distortions using the hardware in the microscope or in software using reconstruction algorithms. This is an exciting multidisciplinary PhD project that promises to make cutting-edge advances in all research areas involved.

Aim

This project combines practical hands-on optics experimentation with training neural networks to develop the next generation of optical microscopes. You will have the opportunity gain skills in optical instrumentation and imaging, AI and machine learning, and in plant biology and sample handling.

Your base will be in the Optics and Photonics Group in the Faculty of Engineering and from here you will work with a team of academics and researchers across Engineering, Computer Science and the Biosciences.

You will be supervised by Amanda Wright (Optics and Photonics Research Group, Faculty of Engineering), Mike Somekh (Optics and Photonics Research Group, Faculty of Engineering), Mike Pound (Computer Vision, Computer Science Department), and Darren Wells (Plant and Crop Biophysics, School of Biosciences).

Who we are looking for

An enthusiastic, self-motivated, resourceful student, who likes working as part of a team and is keen to take on a new challenge. An understanding of optics and/or machine learning is desirable but not essential, along with general coding skills.

1^st or a 2:1 in a relevant field (for example Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, or Biosciences).

Funding support

After a suitable candidate is found, funding is then sought from the University of Nottingham as part of a competitive process (this will cover home tuition fees and UKRI stipend)

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The Faculty of Engineering provides a thriving working environment for all PGRs creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. Community and research culture is important to our PGRs and the FoE support this by working closely with our Postgraduate Research Society (PGES) and our PGR Research Group Reps to enhance the research environment for PGRs. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy’s Training Programme, those based within the Faculty of Engineering have access to bespoke courses developed for Engineering PGRs. including sessions on paper writing, networking and career development after the PhD. The Faculty has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners. 

Please contact Amanda Wright with your CV and supporting statement to apply for this project – amanda.wright@nottingham.ac.uk 

Closing Date: 02 Feb 2026
Category: Studentships