Research Studentship in Aircraft Propulsion

4-year D.Phil. studentship

DPhil in Engineering Science Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA) in Gas Turbine Heat Management

Supervisor: Prof Peter Ireland

Future aircraft engines will maximize fuel efficiency by including new, fluid flow and cooling systems into advanced turbofan configurations. This doctorate will research highly innovative technologies that carefully control the temperature of key engine components The Oxford Thermofluids Institute at the University of Oxford has world leading expertise in flow and temperature control and cooling technologies. The research will study systems and components that will minimize any thermodynamic penalties of the effective cooling systems. For example, cooled cooling air offers the opportunity to improve the fuel efficiency of future ultraefficient engines which are a vital component of the UK's strategy to achieve net zero aviation. This project will explore the science of novel cooling technologies, such as phase change materials and heat transfer enhancement, for the air systems used to condition the turbine cooling air. The aerospace requirements for accurate steady and transient thermal control in challenging operating temperature and vibration rich environments drives the need for bespoke, innovative low mass thermal management systems.

Eligibility 

This studentship project is funded by UKRI. Due to restrictions on international student recruitment to UKRI grants, only applications from applicants who meet the residential eligibility criteria for UKRI funding will be considered. The successful applicant who is offered a place on this course will be offered a fully-funded scholarship, covering all course fees for the duration of their course and a living stipend.

There is very limited flexibility to support international students. If you are an international student and want to apply for this studentship please contact the supervisor to see whether the flexibility might be available for you.

Award Value

Course fees are covered at the level set for Home students. The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is the UKRI Minimum Stipend.

Candidate Requirements

Prospective candidates will be judged according to how well they meet the following criteria:

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in Engineering, Physics or equivalent
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills 
• An interest in aerospace and the technologies used to decarbonise flight

The following skills are desirable but not essential: 

• Ability to code program in Matlab
• Experience using CFD codes.
• Experience with heat transfer technologies or experiments

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Prof Peter Ireland (peter.ireland@eng.ox.ac.uk)

Candidates must submit a graduate application form and are expected to meet the graduate admissions criteria. Applications must be submitted via the following webpage: IDLA Studentship: Gas Turbine Heat Management | Oxford University

The EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA), which funds this course, was previously known as Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering (ICASE).

Please quote 26ENGTH_PI in all correspondence and in your graduate application.

Application deadline: noon on Friday 3 July 2026

Start date: October 2026