PhD Studentship: Braze Alloy Development for Advanced Repair of Aeroengine Components

Funder: EPSRC and Rolls-Royce

Duration: 3.5 years from 1 October 2026

Supervisors: Prof Howard Stone

Location: The PhD studentship will be based at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy as part of the Structural Materials Group. The Structural Materials Group is a diverse and dynamic research team working across aerospace, automotive, energy, defence, and biomedical sectors. The group’s expertise includes alloy design, microstructure-property relationships, phase transformations, and advanced materials processing.

Closing date for applications: 15 Jan 2026 with interviews shortly afterwards.

Stipend: Full funding for 3.5 years covering a personal maintenance stipend starting at £20,780 (current rate) per annum with a top up of £5,500 per annum from Rolls-Royce.

Fees: This position is open to UK citizens or overseas students who meet the UK residency requirements (home fees) or are able to augment the funds to cover the extra costs associated with international student fees. Exceptional candidates may be eligible for an International Fee Bursary.

Braze Alloy Development for Advanced Repair of Aeroengine Components

Brazing offers the prospect of revitalising high temperature structural components in the gas turbine engines used for civil aviation, thereby extending service life and reducing cost. For the reliable deployment of this technology, the microstructural and property changes that occur as a result of the process must be fully understood. This is particularly important for the highest performance alloys used in large civil engines, which encounter demanding service conditions.

This PhD project will seek to carry out the fundamental metallurgical research required to understand how elemental redistribution takes place between the constituents of repair brazes in superalloys. This will involve detailed characterisation using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical testing. Thermodynamic and kinetic modelling will also be performed to build a predictive capability of how interdiffusion proceeds during processing and the nature of the phases that are formed. The insights obtained will be used to optimise braze alloy chemistry and processing as well as better understand the impact on braze repair on the adherence of protective surface coatings. The PhD will be conducted in close collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc.

Applicants should have (or expect to be awarded) a good UK Master’s degree (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant science subject (Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering) and should be self-motivated, able to take ownership of their research, and effectively communicate their research findings. Training in all the computational and experimental methods will be provided in the project, although relevant previous experience would be advantageous.

Applications for the PhD project should be submitted via the University Application Portal: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply. Early applications are encouraged as the position may be filled once a suitable candidate is identified.

For further details on postgraduate study at Cambridge, visit the University website. Informal enquiries can be sent to structuralmaterials@msm.cam.ac.uk

Fixed term: The funds for this post are available for 3.5 years in the first instance.

Applicants are asked to upload the following on the University Application Portal:

1. A short research statement (maximum 1 page) describing the applicant's past research, future goals, and why the applicant is interested and suitable for this position.

2. A curriculum vitae with a list of publications

Please quote reference LJ48138 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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

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