Lubricants for Electric Vehicles and Sustainable Energy Systems

A fully funded PhD studentship is available in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds for the 2026/27 academic year. This position is open to UK applicants and includes full tuition fees, a UKRI-level living stipend, and additional funding to support research training. The project is funded through the EPSRC–University Scholarship scheme in collaboration with BP-Castrol.<br /> <br /> This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to explore how lubricants perform in electrified systems such as electric vehicle drivetrains and wind turbine gearboxes. Electrification introduces electrical stresses into lubricated systems, which in-turn can cause lubricant degradation, electrical discharge events, and the subsequent degradation of contacting surfaces. Despite growing industrial importance, the complex interactions between electrical activity, lubricant chemistry, and surface damage are still not fully understood.<br /> <br /> The project is based within the Institute of Functional Surfaces, School of Mechanical Engineering, which hosts internationally recognised expertise in tribology, surface engineering, and lubricant research. The successful candidate will work closely with BP-Castrol, gaining experience and industrial insight through collaboration, technical mentoring, and secondment opportunities.

<p style="text-align:justify; margin-bottom:11px">The transition towards electrified systems in automotive and energy sector applications introduces complex electro-tribological conditions that fundamentally change how lubricants and surfaces interact. Wide-ranging voltages, high-frequency alternating fields and stray currents can alter surface chemistry and penetrate lubricant films, triggering dielectric breakdown, accelerated surface wear, and lubricant contamination.</p> <p>This project aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of how electrical stresses lead to changes in lubricant chemistry and surface protection under application-relevant conditions.</p> <p>The project will involve:</p> <ul> <li>Experimental investigation of lubricated contacts operating under electrified conditions;</li> <li>Analysis of lubricant composition changes resulting from degradation and contamination;</li> <li>Characterisation of protective surface layers and failure mechanisms;</li> <li>Development of predictive framework to link electrical stress, lubricant behaviour, and wear progression.</li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The successful candidate will gain experience in advanced tribological testing, lubricant analysis, electrochemical methods, and surface characterisation techniques. The project also includes opportunities for collaboration and industrial secondments with BP-Castrol.</p> <p>Further information about research within the School of Mechanical Engineering can be found here:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering-research-degrees">School of Mechanical Engineering Research</a></li> <li><a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering-research-functional-surfaces">Institute of Functional Surfaces (iFS)</a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Selection Process</strong></p> <ul> <li>All applications will be considered after the deadline. Only complete applications will be considered.</li> <li>The final list of awards are based on academic merit and no other factors such as financial hardship are taken into account.</li> <li>Applicants will be e-mailed within six weeks of the deadline to confirm the outcome.</li> <li>The University will publish the names of the successful applicants within the University and externally on the University website within eight weeks of the relevant scholarship closing date.</li> </ul>

<p>To apply for this project you will need to make a formal application for research degree study through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN. </p> <p>•    For <strong>‘Appli</strong><strong>cation type’</strong> please select <strong>‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’</strong>. <br /> •    The <strong>admission year</strong> for this project is <strong>2026/27 Academic Year</strong>. <br /> •    You will need to select your <strong>‘Planned Course of Study’</strong> from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select ‘<strong>EPSRC DTP – Engineering</strong>’. <br /> •    The <strong>project start date</strong> for this project is<strong> 1 October 2026</strong>, please use this as your <strong>Proposed Start Date of Research</strong>. <br /> •    Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <strong>Lubricants for Electric Vehicles and Sustainable Energy Systems</strong> as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/staff/1004/dr-farnaz-motamen-salehi"><strong>Dr Farnaz Motamen Salehi</strong></a> as your proposed supervisor.</p> <p>More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">here</a>. You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project.</p> <p>Applications will be reviewed and assessed after the closing date of Tuesday 30 June 2026. We will assess applications continuously as we receive them. We welcome and strongly encourage any potential applicants to contact the supervisor(s) for an informal discussion, prior to applying, and recommend submitting your application early. </p> <p><strong>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of Tuesday 30 June 2026 or at the point you submit your application:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date including grading scheme</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or a closely related discipline.<br /> <br /> Candidates with a first-class honours degree and/or a Master's degree may be particularly competitive for scholarship funding.<br /> <br /> 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.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p style="text-align:start; margin-bottom:24px">A highly competitive EPSRC Faculty Doctoral Training Partnership Award, in collaboration with BP-Castrol, providing full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate of £21,805 for 3.5 years.  Training and support will also be provided.</p> <p>This opportunity is open to UK applicants only.  All candidates will be placed into the EPSRC Faculty Doctoral Training Partnership Award Competition and selection is based on academic merit.</p> <p>Please note that there is 1 funded place available.  If you are successful in securing an academic offer for PhD study, this does not mean that you have been successful in securing an offer of funding.</p> <p><strong>Eligibility Criteria</strong></p> <ul> <li>Applicants must be eligible to pay fees at the Home (UK) rate.</li> </ul> <p>If you are unsure whether you are eligible for UK fees/funding, please visit the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ukcisa.org.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7CJ.S.Hewer%40leeds.ac.uk%7C07632c93c06a442dca3d08ddfc172939%7Cbdeaeda8c81d45ce863e5232a535b7cb%7C0%7C0%7C638943898649349324%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nylGSov8jOc7hr6X%2FmfnfQPecbVUnGqgoSqVgPGy5K0%3D&reserved=0">UKCISA</a> website or our <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate-fees/doc/fee-assessment">fee assessment page</a> regarding fee status for Non-UK nationals.</p> <p><strong>Other Conditions</strong></p> <ul> <li>Candidates who have previously been awarded a PhD or are currently registered on a PhD are excluded from applying. Those who were previously studying for a PhD but did not complete may be considered.  </li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2026, or soon after that. </li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul>

<p>If you are interested in this project or have any questions, please do contact the project supervisor, Dr Farnaz Motamen Salehi by emailing <a href="mailto:F.MotamenSalehi@leeds.ac.uk">F.MotamenSalehi@leeds.ac.uk</a>.</p> <p>For further information about your application, including how to apply, please contact PGR Admissions by emailing <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a>.</p>