PhD Studentship: Reporting what pilots can see: a collaborative system for sharing contrail observations across airlines and air traffic management

Imperial College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full tuition coverage

Generous travel budget

Annual stipend £23,805

Job summary

Imperial College London invites applications for a Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation (DPSA) starting October 2027. The project focuses on contrail observation sharing across airlines and air navigation service providers, using pilot input, aircraft and camera data within governance frameworks to improve forecasting and decision-making.

Full support includes 3.5 years duration, full tuition coverage, travel budget, and a £23,805 tax-free stipend per year.

Qualifications

• 1st class honours Master’s (or higher) in Aerospace Engineering or allied disciplines.
• Strong numerical methods and scientific computing background.
• Excellent verbal and written technical communication; ability to publish.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate a collaborative contrail observation system across airlines and ANSPs.
• Collaborate with researchers, pilots, and engineers to integrate data sources.
• Disseminate findings through publications, training, and outreach activities.

Skills

Numerical methods

Scientific computing

Verbal and written communication

Sustainability focus

Independent work

Education

Master’s degree with 1st class honours

Job description

Supervisors: Professor Marc Stettler, Dr Sebastian Eastham

Start date: October 2027

Application deadline: 4 January 2027

Introduction: The Brahmal Institute invites applications for its October 2027 Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Aviation (DPSA). Under the 2027 strategic theme sustainability across stakeholders, the cohort will undertake interdisciplinary research addressing aviation sustainability from a systems perspective, recognising the interconnected roles of airports, airlines, air traffic management, aircraft and passengers. Alongside their individual projects, students will benefit from shared learning, specialist training, networking and outreach, fostering collaboration to drive system-wide change towards more sustainable aviation.

Project overview: Contrail avoidance is one of aviation’s most promising near-term climate interventions, but wider adoption depends on flight crew engagement and reliable feedback on contrail formation. While some airlines collect pilot observations, reporting remains fragmented and unstandardised. This project will design and evaluate a collaborative system for sharing contrail observations across airlines and air navigation service providers, combining pilot input, aircraft and camera data, and governance frameworks to improve forecasting, verification and operational decision-making.

General Information:

• Duration: 3.5 years
• Funding: Full coverage of tuition fees. a generous travel budget, and an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805.

Eligibility:

• Having obtained or expect to obtain a 1st class honours Master’s (or higher) degree in Aerospace Engineering or allied disciplines such as Computational Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics.
• Ability to develop and apply new concepts while prioritising work in response to deadlines.
• Creative approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent background in numerical methods, and scientific computing.
• Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly for publication
• Demonstrated understanding of and passion for sustainability.
• We are accepting applications from both Home and International students

Imperial is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and are working in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

Further Information: To learn more about Imperial College, please go to http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg

For further inquiries, contact us at [e-mail]

Full coverage of tuition fees. a generous travel budget, and an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805