The University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) and Daresbury Laboratory (Warrington, England) are looking for enthusiastic and well-qualified graduates to research into new models for fluid flows in nano- and microsystems. There are three PhD student positions available.
Technology is driving towards ever-smaller systems. Mechanical devices (such as gas turbines, fluid engines, and "labs-on-a-chip") that are a few nano- or micrometres in size are already being designed and constructed. In the future, microengineering and nanotechnology will revolutionise the control of chemical, aerodynamic and industrial processes. One problem holding the technology back is that current models for fluid dynamics (the Navier-Stokes equations), which are so good for designing aerodynamic aircraft and cars, or water pumps and ships, fail for very small-scale systems. There is a need to develop a new science of flows in nano- and microsystems, and these PhD projects will be part of this international research effort.
The three projects are: (1) New models for liquid flows in nanosystems (2) Investigating a novel approach to gas flows in microsystems (3) New methods for extending Navier-Stokes modelling of micro gas flows
Projects (1) and (2) will be based in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Strathclyde University
These are challenging projects, so you will need to have (or be about to obtain) a 1st or 2:1 degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Aeronautical Engineering or related subjects with a strong mathematical content (equivalent overseas qualifications are welcome). The PhD projects are theoretical and numerical, so experience of any of the following would be an advantage: Computational Fluid Dynamics software, Mathematica, high level programming languages (Fortran90, C, C++). The worldwide interest in this research means that, during the course of your PhD, you will present your work at international conferences and other research centres in the UK and abroad.
The positions are available from 1st September 2004, although the starting date is flexible by a couple of months, and you may start earlier if you wish. Each research project will last 3 years. You will receive a (tax-free) stipend of £10,500 each year. If you are a UK or EU student, your university fees are included so you will not need to pay anything. Overseas students will need to pay the difference between the Home and Overseas fee rates (which is approximately £7,000 each year).
There is no closing date, and applications will be reviewed as they come in until suitable candidates are offered the positions. To apply, please email a full Curriculum Vitae (or Resume), with the names and contact details of two referees, to Professor JM Reese at snipped-for-privacy@strath.ac.uk. In your email, please also state which project you are interested in, and why you want to study for a PhD in this research area. Suitable candidates will be invited to interview at either Strathclyde or Daresbury.