The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences places a strong emphasis on enabling students to achieve a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree by research. We are pleased to offer this opportunity at the Dubai Campus, particularly for those interested in pursuing projects in the broad area of energy. This includes renewable energy, energy utilisation and conservation, and advanced materials for energy production and conversion, such as the development of nanocomposite carbide coatings.

Research Overview

PhD students on the Dubai Campus will engage in high-value, fundamental research in engineering. Students will collaborate with research groups based at Edinburgh, working under the supervision of expert academic supervisors. The research process will include:

  • Research Project Work: Students will spend significant time conducting research, engaging with scientific literature, and participating in group discussions via electronic communications.

  • Final Thesis: Upon completion of the research, students will spend approximately six months “writing up” their thesis. After submission, their work will be examined by both internal and external academics.

Potential Research Topics for PhD Supervision

Research topics for PhD supervision may include, but are not limited to:

  • Surface Coatings: For energy, biomedical, and transportation engineering, such as surface engineered components for gas turbines, solar panels, human implants, and rotating machines.

  • Micromechanics of Engineering Systems.

  • Contact Mechanics and High-Speed Impacts.

  • Tribology of Interacting Surfaces: Including gears, bearings, and oil drilling applications.

  • Thermal Conductivity and Heat Transfer: Exploring direct absorption solar collectors with nanofluids technology.

  • Aerodynamic Optimisation: For drag reduction in heavy vehicles using passive devices like boat-tails.

  • Building Integrated Renewable Energy: Optimisation of net zero building systems.

  • Mathematical Modelling and Control: Of elastic and fluid-structure dynamical systems.

  • Renewable Energy Technologies.

  • Sensorless Control of AC Drives: Investigating signal injection nonlinearities in AC machine performance.

  • Distributed Generation and Smart Grids: Impact on the power grid (requires background in power electronics and control).

  • Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management.

  • Hybrid Battery/Supercapacitor Energy Storage Systems.

  • Hybrid Concentrating Photovoltaic/Thermal Energy Systems: Applied to UAE buildings.