Studentship - Microstructure & Defect Control

Full-funded PhD Studentship on Microstructure and Defect Control in Recycled Aluminium Alloys (2026)

What you get

• For 3.5 years, you will receive a tax-free stipend at a standard rate of £21,805 per year and your fees will be waived (at the UK or International rate). In addition, to a one-off Research and Training Support Grant of £2,000.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

The project comprises:

• Studies of grain structure control and solidification defect

You will study how grain refinement strategies and Fe impurity levels influence microstructure development and defect susceptibility during casting/solidification.

• Collaborative pilot-scale studies

In collaboration with NTNU, you will carry out both laboratory-scale casting experiments and near-industrial-scale casting trials to connect fundamental mechanistic understanding with industrially relevant processing conditions. Alloy composition, Fe concentration, inoculation conditions, cooling conditions and remelting history will be systematically studied.

You will employ a range of advanced characterisation techniques, including:

• Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM-EDX/EBSD, TEM)
• Synchrotron X-ray imaging
• Mechanical testing

Supervision and research environment

The project will be supervised by Dr. Shikang Feng within the School of Engineering and Informatics at the University of Sussex, with collaboration opportunities involving NTNU and industrially relevant processing platforms. The student will join a growing research environment in sustainable materials engineering with access to advanced casting and characterisation facilities.

Candidate profile

We seek a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in one or more of the following areas: materials science, metallurgy, mechanical engineering or a closely related field. Experience with metallography, materials processing or materials characterisation would be advantageous but not essential.

Eligibility

This studentship is available to UK and Overseas applicants.

Eligible candidates will normally have an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in a related field.

The University of Sussex believes that the diversity of its staff and student community is fundamental to creative thinking, pedagogic innovation, intellectual challenge, and the interdisciplinary approach to research and learning. We celebrate and promote diversity, equality and inclusion amongst our staff and students. As such, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Number of scholarships available

1

Deadline

How to apply

Apply online for a full time PhD in Engineering/Informatics/Cognitive Science [insert entry date] using our step-by-step guide.

Please ensure you application includes each of the following:

• A research proposal.
• Your CV.
• Degree certificates and transcripts.
• 2 references, including a minimum of 1 from any institution studied at within the last 5 years.
• If your first language is not English you will need to demonstrate that you meet the University’s English language requirements.

Please clearly state on your application that you are applying for the Full-funded PhD Studentship on Microstructure and Defect Control in Recycled Aluminium Alloys under the supervision of Dr. Shikang Feng.

Contact us

If you have practical questions about the progress of your on-line application or your eligibility, contact FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk

For academic questions please contact Shikang.Feng@sussex.ac.uk

Timetable

Application Deadline: 02 October 2026

Interview Date: After 19th Ocotber 

Entry Date: 04 January 2026