EPSRC Centre For Doctoral Training in Future Fluid Dynamics

PGR-F-66

Key facts

Deadline: Friday 10 January 2025
Funding start date: Wednesday 1 October 2025
Number of funding places: 12
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Source of funding: Centre for doctoral training
Key staff: Dr Oliver Harlen
Additional staff: Dr Claire Savy (Centre Manager)
Schools: School of Mathematics
Research groups/institutes: Institute of Fluid Dynamics

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a 4-year EPSRC funded integrated PhD and MSc in Future Fluid Dynamics. Fluid dynamics is a substantial UK research strength and is of critical importance to the economy and society. The discipline is developing rapidly with new techniques, including data-driven fluid dynamics, enabling increasingly complex and challenging problems to be tackled on an ever-faster timescale. Harnessing these advances requires graduates with new skills who can lead the adoption of these new approaches. The EPSRC CDT in Future Fluid Dynamics brings together the breadth of fluids expertise at the University of Leeds to address this research, industry and policy need. It delivers a world-leading centre for postgraduate training to enhance fundamental mathematical and engineering expertise and lead new and innovative research across the breadth of fluids applications. FFD-CDT builds on our previous successful CDTs with its highly effective integrated MSc and PhD programme to deliver: (i) training to equip highly skilled graduates with expertise in the latest fluid dynamics techniques combined with data science, machine learning and professional skills to work effectively in increasingly interdisciplinary research environments; (ii) cutting-edge research on key fundamental, industrial and societal fluid dynamics challenges and novel methodologies to further the UK prominence in this strategically important discipline; (iii) a collaborative, diverse and inclusive cohort-led environment that nurtures partnerships with the UK and international fluids community, supports cross-discipline working and champions the benefits of fluid dynamics for the economy and society.

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) offers a four-year programme that combines an integrated MSc (completed over the first two years) paired with a three-year PhD-level research programme. This gives you a combination of bespoke taught modules and inter-disciplinary research training. You will be part of a supportive cohort of research students with different academic backgrounds, all focusing on different aspects of Fluid Dynamics. During the taught aspects of your course, you will receive a range of tailored seminars, lectures and practical laboratories covering data-driven methods for Fluid Dynamics; advanced computational and analytical tools; multi-scale experimental techniques; multi-physics and complex fluids. This provides you with a strong background to the fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics, thus significantly broadening the PhD topics you can choose from, and the techniques you can apply to your project. In addition, you will have access to a wide range of personal development activities. These include: attending and contributing to regular seminar series, workshops, conferences and training events. Your PhD research will be supported by supervisors from at least two different participating Schools, providing you with the opportunity to take part in interdisciplinary study. You will also have the opportunity to work alongside either an international academic or industrial partner for an extended placement as part of the CDT’s strong industrial participation. Please visit our website for a <a href="https://fluid-dynamics.leeds.ac.uk/partners/">list of our industrial partners</a>. The major research areas of the CDT are encompassed in eight cross-disciplinary themes; <ul> <li>Clean Energy</li> <li>Transport</li> <li>Climate & Weather</li> <li>Buildings & Cities</li> <li>Environmental Flows</li> <li>Advanced Manufacturing</li> <li>Health</li> <li>Astrophysics and Geophysics</li> </ul> The scientific discipline of fluid dynamics is primarily concerned with the measurement, modelling and underlying physics and mathematics of how liquids and gases behave. Almost all natural and manufactured systems involve the flow of fluids, which are often complex. Consequently, an understanding of fluid dynamics is integral to addressing major societal challenges including industrial competitiveness, environmental resilience, the transition to net-zero and improvements to health and healthcare. Fluid dynamics is essential to the transition of the energy sector to a low-carbon future (for example, fluid dynamics simulations coupled with control algorithms can significantly increase wind farm efficiency). It is vital to our understanding and mitigation of climate change, including extreme weather events (for example in designing flood mitigation schemes). It is key to the digitisation of manufacturing through 3d printing/additive manufacturing and development of new greener processing technologies. In healthcare, computational fluid dynamics in combination with MRI scanning provides individualised modelling of the cardio-vascular system enabling implants such as stents to be designed and tested on computers. Fluid dynamics also shows how to design urban environments and ventilate buildings to prevent the build-up of pollutants and the transmission of pathogens. Entry requirements A degree equivalent to a UK first class honours, or a high upper second class, in an engineering, mathematics or science discipline. Funding There are a number of highly competitive EPSRC CDT Fully Funded Studentship Awards for Session 2024/25, covering the full cost of University Fees plus Maintenance that are associated with CDTs. Applications are open to all applicants, with opportunities for Non-UK Fee rated applicants limited. A full standard studentship consists of academic fees for each academic session, together with a tax-free maintenance grant of £19,237 per year for 4 years. Additional training and support is also available. There are also a limited number of places available to Non-UK Fee rated applicants who are able to self-fund their own study or who are funded by an external sponsor. Please note that in this case you must be able to evidence that you have secured funding (either personal or via your external sponsor) for the full 4 years of the CDT programme. You will be responsible for paying the overtime fee in full in your writing up/overtime year (£320 in Session 2024/25). Important: Please note that that the award does not cover the costs associated with moving to the UK. All such costs (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source. Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA</a> website for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals. We are able to consider flexibility in how the programme is studied for those students unable to join the programme as a full time student. Please get in touch with us if you would like to explore this. Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics (LIFD) CDT students will also benefit from membership of the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics (LIFD), a cross-disciplinary research institute bringing together the expertise of over 200 researchers from 12 Schools in 4 Faculties at the University of Leeds. The institute provides a hub to facilitate world-leading research and education in fluid dynamics and to bring interdisciplinary perspectives to complex flow challenges. Please visit our <a href="https://fluids.leeds.ac.uk/">Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics</a> website for further information

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Faculty information</h2>

Please visit the <a href="https://fluid-dynamics.leeds.ac.uk/">EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Fluid Dynamics</a> for more information on the programme. The closing date is 10 January 2025 at 23:59 (UK Time).

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

All student are recruited to the CDT via two options: 1) Recruitment to industry specific research areas, or 2) Research project chosen in semester 2 rather than at recruitment stage. To apply online, please complete a <a href="https://studentservices.leeds.ac.uk/pls/banprod/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon" title="External link to www.leeds.ac.uk. Opens in a new browser window">formal application for Integrated PhD study</a> <ul> <li>Select ‘Research Postgraduate’ for type of form.</li> <li>Please select ‘EPSRC CDT Fluid Dynamics’ as the course.</li> <li>Start date: 1 October 2025 (Please note: induction activities will take place towards the end of September).</li> <li>If you are applying for a specific project, please add the title of CDT Fluid Dynamics in the Finance Section and the name of the project in the Research Area section of your application form. If you are applying for the programme, please add the title of CDT Fluid Dynamics in both the Finance section and Research Area section of the application form. </li> <li>Please include a completed Fluid Dynamics CDT Personal Statement. <a href="https://fluid-dynamics.leeds.ac.uk/programme/">Personal Statement Proforma</a> (found in the ‘how to apply’ section) – A Research Proposal is not required.</li> <li>Please include a CV</li> <li>Please include all transcripts and certificates for your degree(s).</li> <li>After you submit your PhD application on-line you may get a message requesting you to send hard copies of your degree transcripts and references in sealed envelopes. Please ignore this. We do not require hard copies of your degree documents at the application stage, we only require these when you arrive in Leeds to register for your programme.</li> <li>References are requested by the Admissions team on your behalf if you are shortlisted for interview. Your referees are emailed a Faculty Reference Form to complete and return by email. If your referees want to provide their reference on headed paper an emailed scan is sufficient for our purpose.</li> </ul>

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a UK first class honours, or a high upper second class, in an engineering, mathematics or science discipline. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for the Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics is an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with not less than 5.5 in any skill area or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

If you require any further information on the research area, please contact the CDT Programme Support Team by email to e: <a href="mailto:fluid-dynamics@leeds.ac.uk">fluid-dynamics@leeds.ac.uk</a> t: +44 (0)113 343 5449 For further information on how to apply, please contact Doctoral College Admissions: e: <a href="mailto:maps.pgr.admissions@leeds.ac.uk">maps.pgr.admissions@leeds.ac.uk</a>