Experimental study of novel fuels and their application to IC engines

Applications are invited for ONE full time PhD studentship for this project starting 1^st October 2023. You will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £20,662, including inner London weighting, plus payment of their full-time home student tuition fees for a period of 36 months (3 years). UK (Home) and overseas nationals who meet the academic entry criteria set out below are welcome to apply.

The Project

You will join the Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels to work on an exciting project on experimental study of injection, ignition and combustion of low carbon and zero carbon fuels, such as methane and hydrogen, and their applications in internal combustion engines. Fundamental studies will be carried out by means of a range of high speed optical and laser measurement techniques. Thermodynamic engine experiments will be performed to understand combustion characteristics, engine efficiency and emissions by using heat release analysis and emissions analyser. You will be a member of a large research group that conducts experimental and modelling studies, many of which are in collaboration with industrial partners. You will be required to present progress at regular project meetings with industrial partner and contribute to the publication of journal papers and conference proceedings.

Please contact Dr Xinyan Wang (Xinyan.wang@brunel.ac.uk) for an informal discussion about the project.

Eligibility

You should hold or expect to be awarded an undergraduate degree classified at first class or equivalent. An MSc degree classified at Merit or above would be an advantage.

Where applicable, you should hold an English Language proficiency qualification to an overall score of IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all sections) or equivalent OR provide confirmation of your test date if you do not yet hold this qualification.

Experience in optical measurements and engine experiments will be an advantage. You should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have effective communication skills.

How to apply

Please submit the documents below as a SINGLE PDF file to xinyan.wang@brunel.ac.uk and

cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk by 12:00 on Monday 19 June 2023:

Your current CV;
A one A4 page, single spaced personal statement setting out (i) your interest in this project and (ii) why your skills, experience and background are relevant for this position;
Your undergraduate and postgraduate degree certificates and transcripts, translated into English if appropriate;
Evidence of your English Proficiency to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) or confirmation of your IELTS test date if you have not yet achieved this qualification.

Interviews will take place in June 2023.

Please, remember to put the project title in the subject of your email.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Xinyan Wang - Dr Xinyan Wang is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Advanced Powertrain and Fuels, Brunel University London, UK. He was awarded the prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Programme in 2020. He is currently the member of the Peer Review College for the UKRI Talent Peer Review College, associate member of the Peer Review College for the UK Engineering and Natural Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), committee member of Hydrogen Europe Research (HER), committee member of UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineering (UKCSAE), Senate member of Brunel University London, member of Brunel Hydrogen team. He is the Associate Principal Editor of Fuel (Elsevier), a member of the editorial board of the international journal Highlights of Vehicles, and a guest editor of MDPI Sustainability, Frontiers in Thermal Engineering and Frontiers in Energy Research. His research interests include the research and development of low carbon and zero carbon combustion engines. He has published more than 50 papers in international journals and conferences.