Sustainable and Smart Materials

About the Project

Materials lie at the heart of many of the world’s global challenges from how we generate our future energy, through the sustainable use of resources and the reduction of use of rare materials to designing for recycling. Materials research in the school covers all of these areas with specific work in materials for fuel cells, batteries and solar cells. The development of novel 3D printing techniques for metals, polymers and ceramics to reduce material and energy use and machining. Designing new alloys to allow for recycling through to the use of natural oils for polymers.

This work is underpinned by a number of national and international centres that support the research. These include our centres for doctoral training EnerHy and DigitalMetals, which focus on the hydrogen economy and the use of digital tools in metallurgy. A major project developing sustainable ceramics manufacturing. This is supported our world class facilities in additive manufacturing and characterisation, including the national centre for cathodoluminescence.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:
Simon Hogg S.C.Hogg@lboro.ac.uk

Entry requirements:
Minimum 2:1 honours degree

English language requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Closing date of advert:31st July 2026

Start date:October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability:Full time 3 years/Part time 6 years

Fee band:2026/27 Band RB (UK TBC, International £29,500)

Who is eligible to apply?: UK and International

How to apply:
We welcome discussions with interested candidates
Step 1: Interested applicants should first contact Simon Hogg S.C.Hogg@lboro.ac.uk to discuss your research interests and funding options.
Step 2: Applicants are then strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors with a CV, academic transcripts, and confirmation of funding sources or planned funding sources.
Step 3: following any informal discussion, applicants are invited to make a formal application on the Loughborough Website.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit a CV and the minimum supporting documents.
The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application. Please note that this criteria is used for both funded and self-funded projects.
Please note, applications for self-funded projects are accepted all year. Deadlines listed allow time for application processing ahead of the listed start date.

Email address:
S.C.Hogg@lboro.ac.uk

Funding Notes

Tuition fees for 2026-27 entry
UK fee: TBC Full-time degree per annum
International fee: £29,500 Full-time degree per annum
Fees for the 2026-27 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2026, February 2027 and July 2027.
UK tuition fees for 2026/27 are currently to be confirmed pending the release of the UKRI recommended rates. Once published, these rates will be subject to formal approval by the University before being confirmed.