PhD Studentship: Energy Efficient Composite Manufacturing

Funding Source: University of Warwick

Sponsor Company: not available

Stipend: UKRI standard rate for a full-time PhD over 3.5 years (Annual Stipend of £20780 for 2025-26).

Eligibly: Available to UK Home fee status and UK-domiciled EU students.

International applicants are welcome to apply if they can cover the difference between home and overseas tuition fees.

Start Date: Oct/Nov 2025 (flexible and can be adjusted upon agreement with the successful candidate).

Project Overview

The drive for net-zero and sustainable manufacturing is reshaping the future of advanced materials. Traditional composite manufacturing methods, such as autoclave or oven curing, are energy-intensive, costly, and often impractical for large-scale or complex structures. This PhD project aims to develop next-generation, energy-efficient processes for fabricating high-performance composite materials, supporting lightweighting and sustainability targets in key sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy.

The project will explore novel approaches to out-of-autoclave and out-of-oven composite curing, with a focus on advanced localised heating methods that enable precise, rapid, and scalable processing. Key areas of investigation include electromagnetic and light-driven heating techniques, and the influence of materials formulation and fibre architectures on process control, heating efficiency, and final material properties.

The candidate will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge composite processing, materials characterisation, and sustainability assessment, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and an interdisciplinary supervisory team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the scientific and technological foundations of sustainable manufacturing, with strong potential for academic publication, industrial collaboration, and real-world impact.

Applicants are required to submit a 2-page CV and a personal statement outlining their relevant experience and motivation for this position.

For informal enquiries, please contact the Primary Supervisor:

Dr Han Zhang, Reader in Multifunctional Polymers and Composites (han.zhang.10@warwick.ac.uk).

Essential and Desirable Criteria

Essential Criteria:

• A 1st or 2.1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and/or a relevant postgraduate masters’ qualification (MSc) in materials science, engineering, mechanical Engineering, chemical Engineering, physics, or a related discipline. (E)
• Knowledge of composite materials and polymer processing. (E)
• Strong experimental and hands-on laboratory skills. (E)
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for materials and advanced manufacturing. (E)

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience with composite fabrication (VARTM, hand lay-up). (D)
• Experience with electromagnetic heating or nanomaterials. (D)
• Experience with materials characterisation (DSC, DMA, SEM). (D)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. (D)

Funding and Eligibility

Funding: UKRI standard stipend for 3.5 years full-time (£20,780 for 2025–26).

Fees: Full payment of academic fees for home fee status students.

International applicants are welcome to apply but must be able to cover the tuition fee difference between home and overseas rates.

To apply

To apply please complete our online enquiry form via the above ‘Apply’ button and upload your CV, transcripts and certificates of previous studies to allow us to assess your suitability for this specific PhD.

Please ensure you meet the minimum requirements before filling in the online form.

Application deadline is set for 30th June 2025

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