Opportunities

JLR-Imperial PhD on Sustainable Automotive Manufacturing by Design

This new initiative on Sustainable Automotive Manufacturing by Design has been established to develop new knowledge, technologies, and capabilities in view of a low-emission and sustainable automotive manufacturing future, fuelled by electric mobility. It is a new collaboration between JLR and Imperial College London’s Dyson School of Design Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Materials, and Centre for Environmental Policy. The mission is ambitious:

  • To develop new sustainable materials, recycling technologies, engineered and nature-based carbon capture and re-use technologies, and systems models to enable the transition to Net Zero in automotive.
  • Based on the findings, engage the automotive industry and academia to co-develop new system solutions and strategies to support decarbonisation projects by 2050, in view of future uncertainty in terms of climate, cost, technologies, and regulations.
  • Become the point of reference for future development of a sustainable and circular value chain in the automotive sector.

We are looking to recruit two outstanding Home PhD students as part of this new collaboration between JLR and Imperial College London, with background in Chemical Engineering, Design Engineering, Materials Engineering, Systems Engineering (or other relevant training), with a start date in October 2024:

Projects Detail

Project 1: focuses on the development of a techno-economic system model to help decarbonise the automotive value chain, exploring and leveraging new developments in engineered (e.g., carbon capture and re-use technologies) and nature-based (e.g., reforestation) solutions, as well low-carbon materials and recycling technologies. To submit an application, click here. For questions on the project, contact cardin@imperial.ac.uk.

Project 2: focuses on developing and evaluating new advanced bio-inspired materials based on biomass-derived polymers (e.g., using chitin derived from mushrooms) and sustainable inorganic sources and 3D printing processes to support a low-carbon manufacturing process. To submit an application, click here. For questions on the project, contact julian.r.jones@imperial.ac.uk.

For both PhD projects, the funding covers:

  • Full home tuition fees.
  • Annual stipend of at least £20,622 (UKRI standard rate) - or higher based on excellence.

Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form, following the standard Imperial College application procedure. For queries regarding the application process in Design Engineering, please contact n.moult@imperial.ac.uk. For the application process in Materials, please contact a.neri14@imperial.ac.uk.

Application deadline: 31st July 2024