PhD Studentship: Non-contact Electrochemical Decontamination of Legacy Pond Furniture

Institution: The University of Manchester - Department of Materials

Qualification Type: PhD

Location: Manchester

Funding: £20,780 for 2025/26 (subject to annual uplift), plus a top-up from industry and tuition fees will be paid. Available for UK students.

Hours: Full Time

Application Deadline: 15th December 2025

This 3.5-year PhD studentship focuses on developing a non-contact electrochemical surface decontamination technique for legacy pond furniture, primarily steels and stainless steels. The project includes three main goals: (i) developing a non-contact electrochemical decontamination procedure, (ii) optimizing decontamination efficiency using COMSOL finite element simulations, and (iii) benchmarking contamination processes using non-active methods to simulate radioactive exposure.

Electrochemical polarization will be explored using a novel bipolar electrochemical test method to assess the effects of applied potential and current gradients on the dissolution of surface passive films. This will optimize the decontamination process based on surface contamination severity and compare it to existing treatments. COMSOL modeling will simulate the impact of solution conductivity, chemistry, and electrochemical potential on efficiency.

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 discipline.

How to Apply: Visit https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 or contact the supervisors: Prof Dirk Engelberg at dirk.engelberg@manchester.ac.uk and Dr Nicholas Stevens at nicholas.stevens@manchester.ac.uk. Include details of your current level of study, academic background, relevant experience, and a paragraph on your motivation for this project.