PhD Studentship in Tribology of Tyre & Road Emissions

Overview

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London is offering a PhD studentship in the tribology of tyre and road particle emissions. The project is a collaboration between engineering scientists at Imperial and medical scientists at the Technical University of Munich, and two PhD students will work closely together, one at Imperial and one in Munich.

The Imperial student will study the mechanisms of rubber wear, investigate how particulate matter is generated and dispersed in the tyre-road interaction, describe and characterise particle morphology as a function of usage conditions, and suggest ways to reduce particle emissions using a systems approach. Daily supervision at Imperial comes from Professor Marc Masen and Dr Stelios Rigopoulos, with Professor Percy Knolle and Dr Michael Dudek supervising in Munich. A period of study in Munich is anticipated.

Who can apply

Applicants should have a first-class or upper second-class degree or equivalent, or a Master's degree, in mechanical engineering or a related subject. A strong interest in tribology, automotive engineering, mobility, particle emissions and reducing their health and ecological impact is expected. Experience of experimental or computational tribology, computational fluid dynamics or data analysis is desirable. Excellent written and spoken English, an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, disciplined work habits and good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

What you get

The studentship provides full tuition fees at the UK Home student rate and an annual tax-free London-weighted stipend, £23,805 per annum at the 2026-27 rate. Funding is available for four years, subject to satisfactory progress. The department offers a collaborative research environment, state-of-the-art facilities, training and professional development opportunities and a diverse, inclusive academic community.

How to apply

Interested applicants send an up-to-date CV to Professor Masen. Suitable candidates then complete an electronic application form at Imperial so the College Registry can assess their qualifications and fee status.

Key dates

The listed closing date is 16 December 2026, and applications remain open until the post is filled.