Materials Science and Engineering: PhD Studentship in Sustainable Fusion Steels: Whole Lifecycle Design of Tokamak Vacuum Vessel Steels

About the Project

Key Information

Open to: UK and international applicants

Funding Provider: Fusion CDT & Swansea University (IGNITE)

Subject Area: Materials Science and Engineering

Project Start Date: October 2026

Supervisors: Professor Nicholas Lavery, Professor Cameron Pleydell-Pearce

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Materials Science and Engineering

Mode of study: Full time

Place of study:

• Swansea University (Bay Campus)
• During the first six months of the PhD, materials strand students will typically travel to attend taught modules at all six of the Fusion CDT partner universities. Travel costs are covered by the Fusion CDT.
• The rest of the project will take place at Swansea University (Bay Campus)

Project description:

Commercialising fusion energy is vital for achieving global net-zero targets and strengthening UK energy security. A key challenge is developing reactor materials that meet strict safety requirements while also being practical to manufacture at industrial scale. This PhD focuses on making tokamak vacuum vessel steels more sustainable across their full lifecycle. The project explores how recycled steel can be used at the start of life while minimising radioactive waste at the end of life.

Fusion materials normally restrict elements such as nickel and molybdenum because they become long-lived radioactive isotopes under neutron exposure. However, these elements are common in recycled scrap, the main feedstock for modern electric-arc-furnace steelmaking. This research investigates how recycled steel can still be used by focusing on the vacuum vessel, which experiences lower neutron exposure and therefore allows greater tolerance of residual elements.

This will be achieved using computational materials design/engineering to accelerate the discovery of novel steels. This involves utilising several different modelling techniques together with rapid alloy prototyping methods to first design and then create lab-scale prototypes of the novel steels. This offers an exciting balance of computer modelling and practical lab work, on a project with excellent potential for real world impact.

More information can be found at: fusion-cdt.ac.uk/project/

Essential Skills:

• Programming proficiency (Python or MATLAB).
• Strong aptitude for computational modelling and data analysis.
• Knowledge of alloys, and the links between composition, processing, microstructures and properties (including tensile, fatigue, toughness and corrosion).

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with ML libraries (Scikit-learn, TensorFlow or MATLAB equivalents).
• Knowledge of CALPHAD (ThermoCalc).
• Practical lab experience (Metallographic preparation, use of optical and SEM microscopes, XRD, mechanical testing).

Eligibility

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.

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.

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.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer.

Funding Notes

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27).

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available to cover both laboratory and travel/subsistence expenses.