EPSRC Doctoral Training Award for a PhD in Modelling and Control of Turbulent Flows

31 May 2011

Applications are invited for a 3 year PhD studentship in the general area of modelling and control of turbulent flows. The research will be undertaken under the joint supervision of Dr Bryn Jones and Dr Ati Sharma and will be based at the University of Sheffield.

The overarching aim is the design of feedback control strategies to return turbulent flow to laminar flow, which has lower drag. The designs will be motivated by robust control theory. Actuation models, in particular wall deformation, will be developed, and the strategies will be tested by direct numerical simulation. The findings will be important for reducing fuel consumption in aeronautics and transport applications and to the fundamental study of turbulence.

The successful candidate would benefit from an interest in control theory, fluid dynamics and programming and should be particularly strong in mathematics, ideally with a physics or engineering background.

Student eligibility:

To be eligible for a full award (stipend and fees) applicants must have:

Settled status in the UK, meaning they have no restrictions on how long they can stay, and
Been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the grant. This means they must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or occasional absences), and
Not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This does not apply to UK or EU nationals).
All EU nationals are eligible to receive fees only is they do not have settled status in the UK.
Candidates with no relevant connection to the UK are not eligible to apply for the studentship.

Financial arrangements:

The award will cover the tuition fees and maintenance for three years. In the academic year 2010/2011 the stipend was £13,590, the 2011/2012 rate is due to be announced shortly.

How to apply:

Applications should be sent to Debbie Proctor, email d.proctor@sheffield.ac.uk and must include a CV, exam result transcripts, any relevant publications, the names and contact details of two referees and a covering letter explaining your current interests and relevant background.

Applicants are invited to contact Dr Ati Sharma (ati@imperial.ac.uk) or Dr Bryn Jones (b.l.jones@sheffield.ac.uk) to discuss the research project informally.

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed either in person or by telephone in mid-July and must be available to begin their PhD programme on 26 September 2011.

Closing date for applications: 30th June 2011