PhD Studentship in Aeronautics: The Chemistry of Contrails (AE0090)

Overview

Imperial College London offers a PhD studentship focused on investigating the chemistry of contrails, which contribute significantly to aviation's impact on climate change. The researcher will examine the role artificial ice clouds play in modifying the atmosphere by providing surfaces for atmospheric chemistry. The student will be part of the Aerospace Environmental Impacts Simulation group and the Contrail Research Centre, situated within the Brahmal Vasudevan Institute for Sustainable Aviation. Supervision for the 3.5-year project is provided by Dr. Sebastian Eastham. The start date falls between 1st August 2027 and 1st July 2028.

Who can apply

Candidates from Home, EU, and International fee statuses are eligible to apply for the position. Applicants 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 general engineering or physics. A quantitative mindset, an interest in computation, and a desire to advance aerospace sustainability are required.

What you get

The studentship provides full coverage of tuition fees alongside an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805 for the duration of the 3.5-year term. The successful candidate will gain expertise in simulating ice clouds and using atmospheric chemistry-transport modelling with the Imperial High Performance Computing facilities. The role also involves attending conferences and collaborating with international researchers.

Key dates

The application deadline is 23:59 on 4th January 2027 in UK time, with the closing date set for 2027-01-04. The selected candidate will begin their studies between 1st August 2027 and 1st July 2028.