About the Project

Fibre networks are ubiquitous in both natural and engineered materials. They are manufactured for many reasons: from the nonwoven fabrics used for insulation, clothing and filtration to the rubberlike polymer-based materials used in applications ranging from plumbing to transport. They are also nature's preferred way of providing structural scaffolding within cells (the cytoskeleton), and within tissues (the extracellular matrix). The mechanical behaviour of these materials is heterogeneous, complex and diverse and it is only by means of predictive mathematical modelling that the underlying processes that govern their behaviour can be fully understood.

In this industry-funded project, we will model stochastic fibre networks, with a particular focus on rubberlike polymer networks, seeking to connect microscopic mechanical models formulated using a discrete calculus formalism with macroscopic (continuum) descriptions. The aim will be to determine how the microscopic constitutive properties of the fibres and the geometry and topology of the network influence the strain energy functions that can be used to describe their behaviour on the macroscale. We will combine techniques from discrete calculus, linear algebra and finite strain continuum mechanics to improve upon current methods, producing new constitutive equations that capture the network properties in a mathematically tractable way. The student will work closely with our industrial collaborators and will have the opportunity to spend time on site with them.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded and home students are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.