PhD Studentship in Aeronautics: Machine Learning-based Control of Reacting Flow Extreme Events (AE0092)

Overview

This studentship focuses on developing a framework to control reacting flow extreme events using a differentiable reacting flow solver and a machine learning-based controller. The project addresses safety challenges in sustainable propulsion systems that utilize hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuels, where turbulent flows can lead to rare and extreme operational states. The successful candidate will join the European project CONTEXT research group under the supervision of Dr. Nguyen Anh Khoa Doan. The duration of the position is 3.5 years, with a start date scheduled between 1st August 2027 and 1st July 2028.

Who can apply

Applicants from Home, EU, and International backgrounds are eligible to apply. Candidates are expected to have achieved or be on track to achieve a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree, or an international equivalent, in aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, computer science, data science, applied physics, or computational physics. Desirable experience includes fluid mechanics, turbulence, computational fluid dynamics, machine learning, and reacting flows.

What you get

The funding covers full tuition fees alongside an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805. Students gain access to Imperial College high-performance computing facilities and professional development workshops covering research communication, computing, data science, and professional progression through the Early Career Researcher Institute. Participants also receive opportunities to attend international conferences.

How to apply

Applicants should visit the designated project page to review important instructions before submitting their application. For project-related inquiries, candidates can email Dr. Nguyen Anh Khoa Doan, while admissions questions should be directed to the PhD Administrator after reviewing the frequently asked questions.

Key dates

The application deadline is 23:59 on 4th January 2027 in UK time. The closing date is 2027-01-04.