Mechanics / Structural Vibration : Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Digital approaches to nonlinear structural dynamic modelling (RS872)

  • DeadlineDeadline: 18 August 2025
  • WalesWales

Description

Closing date: 18 August 2025

Open to: UK applicants only

Funding providers: EPSRC IDLA and The Dyson Institute 

Subject areas: Mechanics / Structural Vibration  

Project start date: 1st October 2025, 1st January 2026, 1st April 2026, 1st July 2026, 1st October 2026 ** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates)

Supervisors: Dr Alexander Shaw and Dr Hadi Madinei from Swansea, with Dr Javad Taghipour at The Dyson Institute  

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Mechanical Engineering  

Mode of study: Full-time (There will be a placement at the Dyson Institute for a minimum of 3 months)

Project description: 

Identifying and validating models for complex structures featuring nonlinearity remains a cutting-edge challenge in structural dynamics, with applications spanning civil structures, microelectronics, and space hardware. This PhD research aims to develop a comprehensive Mode Selection Framework for Reduced Order Modelling (ROM) in Structural Dynamics—using machine learning to build robust, interpretable models from experimental and operational data. 

The core goal is to balance model accuracy with computational efficiency, while meeting the needs of experimental validation. The framework will harness advanced techniques such as machine learning, optimization algorithms, and sensitivity analysis to automate and enhance the mode selection process. The result will be a scalable methodology that improves the performance of ROMs, making them more applicable to real-time structural health monitoring, vibration analysis, and control design. 

This research offers real-world impact across several industries, including: 

  • Aerospace: Faster, more efficient design and real-time condition monitoring for safer aircraft and spacecraft. 
  • Civil Engineering: Real-time health monitoring for bridges and skyscrapers, enabling early detection of damage. 
  • Renewable Energy: Rapid, optimized design of wind turbine blades and structures for greener energy. 
  • Microstructures: Accurate, efficient analysis of devices like MEMS, with minimal computational cost. 

By developing an advanced reduced order modelling framework, this project will empower engineers and designers to achieve more with less—delivering high-impact decisions quicker, with greater confidence, and at much lower cost.  

The position is based at Swansea University and supervised in partnership with The Dyson Institute, funded by an EPSRC IDLA award allowing a generous stipend. It comes with substantial career development opportunities including funds for networking, research costs and training, and a placement at the Dyson Institute of at least 3 months. This placement would provide the candidate with great opportunities for engaging with industrial experts through real-life problems, presenting to industrial audiences in annual Dyson Institute conference week, and gaining practical experience.

At Swansea, supervisors Dr Alexander Shaw and Dr Hadi Madinei have an extensive publication record in the area of nonlinear structural dynamics, and are part of Swansea’s prestigious Structural Dynamics research group within the Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling Data and AI, and have access to excellent laboratory facilities. This complemented by the experience of Dr Javad Taghipour and Dr Ugur Efem at the Dyson Institute. The ideal candidate will have an outstanding engineering or related background, preferably with some experimental or practical experience.  

For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/engineering-epsrc-idls-dyson-structural-dynamics-rs872.php

Entry Requirements

UK fee eligible applicants only

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA.

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page. 

English Language 
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26) with a minimum enhanced stipend payment of £2000 per annum. 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available. 

Funding Duration: 4 years  

How To Apply

To apply, please complete the entire application form, following this link: Complete your application here in Learner Gateway

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS872 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

  • In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  
    • the RS Code, RS872 and 
    • the scholarship title.   
  • Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
  • Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
  • In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
  • Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected. 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.  

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case: 

  1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable). 
  2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert. 
  3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly. 

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

  • CV 
  • Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 
  • A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 
  • One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 
  • Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 
  • Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 
  • Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Alexander Shaw (a.d.shaw@swansea.ac.uk)

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable. 

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed

Who is eligible to apply?

Open to: UK applicants only

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