Swansea University's College of Engineering invites applications for a 3 year PhD studentship funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The successful candidate will join the Complex Flow Group and study pattern formation and emergence in 'frictional fluids'. Pattern formation occurs everywhere around us in nature and engineering. Familiar examples include dunes and ripples in wind-blown sand, the dendritic growth of trees and crystals, and the patterning of a butterfly’s wing. The aim of this project is to understand the physical mechanisms that drive the formation of flow patterns such as fractal fractures, frictional fingers and stick-slip bubbles during gas invasion in granular-fluid mixtures. Such multiphase flows are common in geophysical processes, oil and gas recovery, and carbon sequestration.

This multi-disciplinary project involves lab experiments, image and data analysis, and development of theoretical explanations for the observed physical behaviour of the system. Supervised by Dr Bjornar Sandnes, the successful candidate will work in collaboration with other members of the research team, and interact with a network of researchers in the UK and abroad.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and capable individual who is keen to take on the challenges of this multi-disciplinary project. The expected start date will be April - October 2015. 

Academic requirements:

Candidates should have a first or upper second class honours degree in physics or engineering.

Residency criteria:

UK students = eligible for the full studentship (stipend and fees).

EU students = eligible for the full studentship if you have been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK for at least 3 years. If not, you may be eligible for a fees-only award.

International students (outside EU) = not eligible for this award.