Mechanical Engineering Integrated PhD

Program Overview

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Research profile

The aim of mechanical engineering at Brunel is to develop novel theories, methods and procedures in applied mechanics, and to apply these to real-life problems within the aerospace, offshore, construction, energy and medical engineering industries. Our industry-focused expertise is supporting the future development of new transport technologies, helping address the challenges of producing cleaner, more efficient vehicles and fuels along with integrated intelligent transport systems.

Our facilities are extensive, modern and well-equipped, including the dedicated aerospace/aviation laboratory, flight simulator, professionally designed Brunel motorsport workshop, modern material/structure testing laboratory, and state-of-art IC engine laboratories.

You will benefit from this integrated PhD programme immensely if you want to:

receive a more much guided and hands-on supervision of your learning and research process, especially if you come from more traditional teaching cultures

increase your chances for timely completion of your PhD programme in comparison to students taking traditional route PhD, cutting down the expenses associated with prolonged study

access to tailored, highly specialist research training not available as part of the support provided to traditional route PhD students

maximise your chances for a successful research analysis by applying practical assignments and training which are part of the integrated PhD directly to the research you do for your thesis

receive an official Postgraduate Diploma in Research in addition to your PhD award to certify the completion of skills training which may be required by employers in some countries if you wish to pursue an academic career

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Browse the work of subject-relevant research groups

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels

Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies

Brunel Innovation Centre

Brunel Composites Centre

Digital Manufacturing

Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST)

Assessment of Structures and Materials under Extreme Conditions

Biomedical Engineering

Bioprocess and Biopharmaceutical Engineering

Heat Pipe and Thermal Management

Institute of Digital Futures

Robotics and Automation

Sustainable Energy Use in Food Chains

Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer

Experimental Techniques Centre

Non-traditional Manufacturing Technologies

Equitable Development and Resilience

Institute of Materials and Manufacturing

Mechanics of Solids and Structures

Quality Engineering and Smart Technology

Organ-on-a-Chip

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Program Outline

Research journey

The Brunel Integrated PhD combines PhD research with a programme of structured research, professional and subject training. The programme typically takes 4 years (compared to 3 years for a non-integrated PhD programme). On successful completion, you will be awarded a PhD with an Integrated Postgraduate Diploma in Research in your chosen subject specialisation.

The programme involves demonstrating through original research or other advanced scholarship the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of an academic discipline or professional practice, the ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the general of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline.

The programme of taught modules runs in parallel to your research work during the first three years of study, with the fourth year providing time for you to focus on writing up your PhD thesis. The taught modules cover research and professional skills as well as providing discipline-specific content. The Brunel Integrated PhD aims to support an individual’s development as a research professional. It aims to produce researchers who are well prepared to embark on careers as academics or professional researchers. As well as the skills to conduct and disseminate high-quality academic research, researchers will develop a range of broader (‘transferable’) skills to help ensure that their work has an impact in the wider world.

Find out more here.

This course can be studied 4 years full-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 4 years full-time, starting in October.

Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here: Research degree progress structure.

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Careers and your future

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

Find out more.

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Find a supervisor

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team.

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

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PhD topics

While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

A sustainability analysis of sea ports, supervised by Colin Axon

Additive manufacturing and sustainability, supervised by Eujin Pei

Automatic computational fluid-dynamics, supervised by James Tyacke

Can AI based robot car win the race, supervised by Dong Zhang

CFD modelling of plasma flow control, supervised by James Tyacke

Crystal Plasticity Modelling of Hexagonal Closed-Pack (HCP) Materials for Manufacturing, supervised by Rui Ramos Cardoso

Design, development, and optimisation of a six-legged robot for hybrid walking and manipulation in challenging environments, supervised by Mingfeng Wang

Developing a device for marine life and water quality monitoring, supervised by Gera Troisi

Fracture assessment of large-scale structural components, supervised by Marius Gintalas

Large Language Models (LLM) for Automated Finite Element Analysis, supervised by Michael Rustell and Tatiana Kalganova

Next generation aeroacoustically and aerodynamically efficient aerofoil, supervised by Tze Pei Chong

Next generation electric vehicles, supervised by Dong Zhang

Optimisation of geothermal energy extraction, supervised by James Tyacke

Reliability Analysis of Adhesively Bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites, supervised by Sadik Omairey and Mihalis Kazilas

Study of stray current induced corrosion in railway construction, supervised by Kangkang Tang

Swarm of multiple co-operative and autonomous low-cost robots for search and rescue, supervised by Md Nazmul Huda

The sustainability of hydrogen production for future energy uses, supervised by Colin Axon and Peter Hewitson

Toward automated vehicle control beyond the stability limits via active drifting control, supervised by Dong Zhang

Use of Large Language Models (LLM) as a Structural Engineering Design Assistant, supervised by Michael Rustell and Tatiana Kalganova

Using Machine Learning to Simulate Macroscopic phenomena for Fluid Dynamics, supervised by Nadine Aburumman