The University of Sheffield
Prospective Postgraduates

PhD Projects Directory

Many funded PhD projects are available throughout the year. Projects are listed below by Faculty, then by Department. There may be other projects available and you should always check with the department for other opportunities.

Faculty of Arts & Humanities
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Social Sciences
Cross-Faculty Projects

Cross-Faculty Projects

PhD studentship network - WindNet: Integrated Impact Assessment of Urban Wind Turbines

In recognition of the environmental, humanitarian and economic risks posed by climate change; decisive steps are now being taken to stabilise and reduce the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. These steps have included a substantial re-envisioning of how the electricity we use should be generated and supplied. Onshore wind turbines present one of the most technologically mature and economically viable renewables. Whilst the focus to date has principally been on development of this technology in more rural contexts, there is an increasing focus on development within urban settings. This network examines this particular aspect of the technology and consists of three fully funded cross-Faculty studentships.

PhD studentship network - Synthetic Biology for Human Health

Three Fully-funded PhD studentships (UK, EU level) are available for entry in 2012 in this newly created PhD training network to study technical and social challenges related to the use of synthetic biology in healthcare. Two projects will employ cutting-edge interdisciplinary synthetic biology approaches to address two major technical challenges in healthcare, namely production of biomacromolecules for therapeutic use (Project 1) and the detection of pathogens in drinking water (Project 2). Both areas have the potential for major global impact in the developed and developing world. Alongside these, research to understand the socio-technical dynamics of collaborative research will be conducted (Project 3). The three projects will be managed as part of a cohesive research grouping in synthetic biology and the students will thus benefit from a broad multi-disciplinary approach.

PhD Studentship network - Understanding the roles of stress mechanisms in nervous system disorders and developing new therapeutic interventions

Three fully funded PhD studentships are available to start in October 2012. The studentships are attached to a network of researchers interested in the adaptive responses to stress. Graduates in biological science, biomedical science, chemical biology or psychology are invited to apply. The overall aim of this network is to improve our understanding of the adaptive mechanisms underlying stressful experiences, such as epileptic seizures, and develop new treatments for them. Two of these projects will harness the power of the zebrafish as a tractable model system for elucidating stress mechanisms and identifying new therapies. In parallel, a clinical research project will identify factors underlying susceptibility to stress related to epileptic seizures and evaluate potential treatments. The integrated nature of these studies will enable progress made in each project to impact positively on other research within the network.


Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Department of Archaeology

Check with department.

Department of Biblical Studies

Check with department.

School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics

Project title Supervisor Type Closing date
Under Northern Skies: English-speaking tourists’ encounter with Norway 1750-1930 Professor Andrew Linn (School of English), Professor Richard Jenkins (Department of Sociological Studies), Barbara Hawes (British Library). British Library Scholarship funded project 3 February 2012
Narratives and depictions of slaves and former slaves in Canada: 1800 - 1900 Dr Jane Hodson (School of English) and Dr Philip Hatfield (British Library) British Library Scholarship funded project 3 February 2012

Department of History

Check with department.

School of Modern Languages & Linguistics

Check with department.

Department of Music

Check with department.

Department of Philosophy

Check with department.


Faculty of Engineering

Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering

Check with department.

Department of Civil & Structural Engineering

Check with department.

Department of Computer Science

Project title Supervisor Type Closing date
Spiking Neural Networks and Synaptic Plasticity Dr Eleni Vasilaki Fully funded studentship Open
Investigating Speech Processing in Realistic Environments Dr Jon Barker Fully funded studentship Open

Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering

See the department webpages for current projects.

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering

Check with department.

Department of Materials Science & Engineering

Currently available projects in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

EPSRC Studentship - available immediately - 'Simulating the nucleation and growth of biominerals'

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Project title Supervisor Type Closing date
An Investigation into the Effects of High Velocity Machining of High Strength Titanium Alloys University of Sheffield/ AMRC/ Messier-Bugatti-Dowty Industry linked EngD Studentship Open
RR1000 Machining Improvement University of Sheffield/ AMRC/ Rolls Royce Industry linked EngD Studentship Open
Thermo-Mechanical Impact of Machining Process on Work Piece Material Micro Structure University of Sheffield/ AMRC/ Sandvik Industry linked EngD Studentship Open
Model-based registration of pre- and post-surgery brain images Dr Zeike Taylor Fully funded studentship Open
Differential Geometry Parameterisation for Aircraft Aerodynamic Optimisation Professor Ning Qin Two funded studentships with Airbus Open
Optimisation of the Processing of Green/Recyclable Composites for Reduced Carbon Footprint in Automotive and Sustainable Development Applications Dr. E Ghassemieh Fully funded studentship Open
Departmental Studentships various Fully funded studentships Open


Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health

Department of Cardiovascular Science

Currently available projects in the Department of Cardiovascular Science.

Department of Human Communication Sciences

Currently available projects in the Department of Human Communication Sciences.

Department of Human Metabolism

Currently available projects in the Department of Human Metabolism.

Department of Infection & Immunity

Currently available projects in the Department of Infection & Immunity.

Department of Neuroscience

Currently available projects in the Department of Neuroscience.

Department of Oncology

Currently available projects in the Department of Oncology.

School of Clinical Dentistry

Currently available projects in the School of Clinical Dentistry.

School of Health & Related Research 

Currently available projects in the School of Health & Related Research.

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Currently available projects in the School of Nursing & Midwifery.


Faculty of Science

Department of Animal & Plant Sciences

Check with department.

Department of Biomedical Science

Check with department.

Department of Chemistry

Check with department.

Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

Project title Supervisor Type Closing date
Doctoral Training Programme in Mechanistic Biology various BBSRC Scholarship 6 January 2012
Bacterial cell wall dynamics during life and death Professor Simon Foster MRC Scholarship Open

Department of Physics

Check with department.

Department of Psychology

Current PhD projects in the Department of Psychology.

School of Mathematics & Statistics

Current PhD projects in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics.


Faculty of Social Sciences

Department of Architecture

Check with department.

School of East Asian Studies

Check with department.

Department of Economics

Check with department.

School of Education

Check with department.

Department of Geography

Check with department.

Information School

Check with department.

Department of Journalism Studies

Check with department.

School of Law

Check with department.

Department of Landscape

Check with department.

Management School

Check with department.

Department of Politics

Check with department.

Department of Sociological Studies

Please see the departmental webpages for available studentships.

Department of Town & Regional Planning

Check with department.