About the Project
Supervisory team: Dr Nader Karimi and Dr Temistocle Grenga
About the project
Can renewable electricity replace fossil-fuel heating in some of industry's most energy-intensive processes? This PhD will uncover how flow, particle motion, electrical currents and heat interact inside electrified reactors, developing the fundamental understanding needed to design efficient, flexible technologies for low-carbon fuels, hydrogen production and a Net Zero future economy.
Many industrial processes require very high temperatures and currently rely on fossil-fuel combustion. Replacing this heat with renewable electricity could significantly reduce industrial carbon emissions, but new reactor concepts are needed to use electrical energy efficiently, safely and reliably.
This PhD will investigate the fundamental behaviour of directly electrified particle and fluidised-bed reactors. In these systems, electrically conductive particles can generate heat through Joule heating while being continuously moved and mixed by a flowing gas. This creates a challenging and largely unresolved scientific problem: particle motion changes the contact network through which electricity flows, while the resulting heat generation can in turn alter the flow, particle dynamics and, ultimately, chemical reaction.
The project will develop new understanding of these coupled interactions between fluid flow, particle motion, electrical conduction and heat transfer. Advanced computational modelling, theoretical analysis and relevant experimental data will be used to determine how particle-scale behaviour controls reactor-scale temperature distributions, electrical pathways, hot spots and overall energy efficiency.
The intended outcome is a predictive framework that identifies the physical mechanisms governing electrified reactors and provides new design principles for their efficient operation and scale-up. The research will have relevance to emerging Net Zero technologies including hydrogen production, methane pyrolysis, ammonia conversion, low-carbon fuels and other high-temperature industrial processes.
The project offers interdisciplinary training spanning fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, heat transfer, computational modelling and sustainable energy technologies, providing an excellent foundation for careers in both advanced engineering research and the rapidly growing industrial decarbonisation sector.
Entry requirements
You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
A high-quality master's degree is preferred.
Fees and funding
We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.
Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.
Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.
Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.
For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.
How to apply
Apply now
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- select Full time or Part time
- search for programme PhD Engineering & the Environment (7175)
- add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application
Applications should include:
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 academic references
- degree transcripts and certificates to date
- English language qualification (if applicable)
Contact us
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
For questions about applying, doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk.
Project leader
For an initial conversation, Nader.Karimi@soton.ac.uk.
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break.
The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees' well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.