Funded PhD: Data-Driven Multiscale Mechanics of Composites

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

World-class facilities

Fully funded

Collaboration network

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a 3.5-year funded PhD project in Computational Mechanics. The successful candidate will receive a UKRI-rate stipend (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees paid, with a start date in January 2027.

Research directions include defect-informed damage modelling, interpretable physics-informed ML, and multiscale modelling of fibre-reinforced composites. You will work with in-house FE tools on micro- to meso-scale defects, collaborate with Imperial

Qualifications

• Hold a 2.1 honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science or related field.
• Interest in mechanics of materials, composites, and computational modelling.
• Experience or interest in ML and FE-based simulations is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop defect-informed damage models for composites.
• Build and run multiscale simulations using FE frameworks.
• Explore physics-informed machine learning for structure-property predictions.
• Collaborate with Manchester and partner institutions on research directions.

Skills

Damage modelling

Multiscale modelling

Machine learning

Communication

Education

2.1 honours degree in Mechanical Engineering / CS

Tools

Abaqus

Ansys

COMSOL

Python

MATLAB

Job description

The University of Manchester invites applications for a 3.5-year funded PhD project in Computational Mechanics. The successful candidate will receive a UKRI-rate stipend (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees paid, with a start date in January 2027.

Research directions include defect-informed damage modelling, interpretable physics-informed ML, and multiscale modelling of fibre-reinforced composites. You will work with in-house FE tools on micro- to meso-scale defects, collaborate with Imperial