Mechanical Engineering: SURES Funded PhD in High-Frequency Vibration-Assisted Cleaning of Nanofiltration Membranes

About the Project

Key Information

Open to: UK and international applicants

Funding Providers:

Swansea University is pleased to offer fully-funded Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES) for full-time doctoral students to its seventh cohort, commencing in October 2026.

Each SURES scholarship includes tuition fees and a stipend – reviewed annually at the UKRI standard rate and a £1,000 annual training allowance to support immersive training experiences, conference attendance, engagement with industry and international collaborative opportunities.

Each scholarship is offered for a maximum period of three years; SURES students are expected to submit their theses within this timescale.

Informal scholarship enquiries from applicants to prospective supervisors – prior to the application deadline – are warmly encouraged; please direct these to the relevant member/s of faculty staff.

Subject Area: Mechanical Engineering

Project Start Date: October 2026**

**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**.

Supervisors: Primary/First Supervisor: Dr Saikat Datta; Co-Supervisors: Dr Eifion Jewell and Prof. Davide Deganello

Aligned programme of study: Mechanical Engineering, PhD/MPhil

Mode of study: Full-time

Place of study: Swansea University (Singleton Campus and Bay Campus)

Overview

Nanofiltration membranes are thin filters with extremely small pores that allow water to pass through while removing unwanted salts, contaminants, and organic molecules. They are widely used in modern water treatment, but their performance is often reduced by fouling: the build-up of material on the membrane surface and inside its pores. Fouling lowers water flow, increases energy demand, and shortens membrane lifetime. Existing cleaning methods, such as chemical washing and backwashing, are only partly effective and may also damage delicate membrane materials.

This project will investigate a new, non-destructive cleaning strategy based on applying very high frequency vibrations (MHz–GHz) to nanofiltration membranes. Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations coupled with finite-volume continuum-based modelling, this PhD project will elucidate the interplay between vibration dynamics, hydrodynamics, and membrane-foulant surface forces to achieve optimal cleaning efficiency.

The multiscale modelling framework delivered by this project will ultimately support the design of next-generation chemical-free cleaning technologies for water treatment and provide a platform for future multiscale modelling and experimental validation.

Eligibility

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.

Candidates must have achieved, or be expecting to achieve, a 1st class UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification), or a 2:1 UK undergraduate degree and a Distinction in a UK master’s degree (or international equivalent).

• Where applicants have multiple master’s degrees, a distinction must be held in the degree that is most relevant to the intended PhD study.
• If you are currently studying for a master’s level qualification with an expected award date that is later than 01/10/2026, you should hold a minimum of an upper-second-class (2:1) honours degree.
• You should be able to demonstrate a pass with a minimum grade average of at least 70% for your part-one master’s degree modules (the taught aspect of your master’s course rather than a research-focused dissertation) and submit your dissertation by no later than 30/09/2026.

NB: If you hold a non-UK degree, please see the Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants must be able to begin their course of study in October 2026.

As a cohort-based programme, deferral to an alternative enrolment window within the academic year or to another academic year is not permissible.

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with a score of at least 6.5 in each individual component) or equivalent that is recognised by Swansea University.

Details on the Swansea University English Language entry policy can be found here.

Please note that both the degree and language-proficiency entry requirements for SURES are higher than the baseline standard for entry that is stipulated for most of the PhD programmes at Swansea University.

UK and International applicants

Please note that International applicants will be required to hold a SUIPRES scholarship, with further guidance to follow if shortlisted.

Funding Notes

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

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