Centenary PhD Scholarships

The University of Leicester are investing £9m in 100 PhD Scholarships for entry in autumn 2022 as part of its ambition to deliver on its strategic aim to ‘nurture the next generation of researchers to become world-leaders in their field’.

Application deadline: 11th March 2022

Start date: 26th September 2022

The projects listed below are in addition to the UKRI-funded projects (e.g., STFC and NERC/CENTA) where applications have already closed, and the evaluation/interview process is underway. We therefore strongly suggest that candidates to the UKRI programme also consider applying to the Centenary projects listed below.

The list below covers both the School of Physics and Astronomy (see the College of Science and Engineering page), and the Space Park Leicester Institute of Research and Innovation. Please be aware that not all of the proposed projects will be funded; however, it is possible to apply for up to two projects. For full details of funding eligibility and the application process, please see the pages linked above.

Physics and Astronomy

• Project Ref: PHYS-Carter  Supervisor: Dr Jennifer Carter  Solar wind ion influences at Earth’s magnetosphere: Exploring X-rays with the SMILE mission
• Project Ref: PHYS-Melin  Supervisor: Dr Henrik Melin   Comparative aeronomy of the giant planets in the age of the James Webb Space Telescope
• Project Ref: PHYS-Nichols  Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Nichols   Modelling the upper atmospheres of brown dwarfs and exoplanets
• Project Ref: PHYS-Parker  Supervisor: Dr Robert Parker  Investigating the Susceptibility of Tropical Forests to Climate Change using Earth System Modelling, Satellite Remote Sensing and Machine Learning
• Project Ref: PHYS-Rosotti  Supervisor: Dr Giovanni Rosotti   Characterising turbulence and accretion mechanisms in proto-planetary discs
• Project Ref: PHYS-Sanchez-Cano  Supervisor: Dr Beatriz Sanchez-Cano  Dynamics of ionospheres of unmagnetised planets: Venus and Mars

Space Park Leicester Institute of Research and Innovation

Four out of the six projects below will be funded:

• Project Ref: RI-SPACE-Bannister Supervisor: Dr Nigel Bannister  Model Based Concurrent Engineering: Pre-Phase-A Concept to Digital Twin
• Project Ref: RI-SPACE-Bowen Supervisor: Dr Bleddyn Bowen  Space Policy in the Global Space Age
• Project Ref: RI-SPACE-Hutchinson  Supervisor: Dr Ian Hutchinson  The search for signatures of life with the ExoMars Raman Laser Spectrometer
• Project Ref: RI-SPACE-Martindale Supervisor: Dr Adrian Martindale Mercury’s surface composition – from global to local scales
• Project Ref: RI-SPACE-Sembhi  Supervisor: Dr Harjinder Sembhi  Decoding plant fluorescence signatures in intensive agricultural regions with space sensors
• Project Ref: RI-SPACE-Williams  Supervisor: Dr Hugo Williams  IntegNuRet – Integrating Novel Space Nuclear systems and science Return for novel space missions.