Funding and Finance

EPSRC PhD Studentship - Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells and Related Science and Technologies

  • School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials
  • Reference Code: CE017

Details:

Supervisor: Professor Keith Scott
School: School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials
Funded by: EPSRC

This PhD project is based at Newcastle University in one of the UK’s leading research teams investigating high temperature polymer electrolyte (PEM) fuel cells and electrolysers.  The research programme is funded under the prestigious Supergen Initiative of EPSRC which is a collaboration between the Universities of London, St Andrews, Cambridge, Herriot Watt and Newcastle and Johnson Matthey, Rolls Royce Fuel Cells, Ceres Power and Intelligent Energy.

The project will cover the following themes:

• Development and application of in-situ fourier transform infra red spectroscopic techniques to the study of anodes for high temperature PEM fuel cells

• Modelling and mechanical behaviour of PEM fuel cells

• Proton exchange membranes for medium and intermediate temperature fuel cell operation

• Water transport and degradation of PEM fuel cells

• Proton exchange membranes for medium and intermediate temperature hydrogen electrolysers

• Intermediate temperature hydrogen electrolyser performance

The successful applicant will work in the research groups of Professor Keith Scott and Professor Paul Christensen.  The research facilities are excellent and include: standard current/voltage/time analytical techniques; state-of-the-art spectroscopy; fuel cell test systems; and electrode fabrication systems.  In addition, the School has excellent engineering, mechanical and glassblowing workshops and Newcastle University provides efficient EDX/SEM etc facilities. Research training is provided through the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering’s postgraduate skills development programme.
 
This project will start in September 2009.

Person Specification
You should have, or expect to achieve, a minimum of an upper-second-class Honours degree or a MSc, or equivalent, in science or engineering.

Value of the Award and Eligibility
UK, EU and international students may apply for this PhD which is grant-funded by the EPSRC . The award covers fees at the UK/EU rate and a tax free maintenance allowance. International students will need to source additional funding to meet the difference in costs between UK/EU tuition fees and international tuition fees.

How to Apply
You must complete the University’s postgraduate application form, selecting ‘PhD School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials (full time) - Chemical Engineering’ as the programme of study and inserting the reference number CE017.  Only mandatory fields need to be completed (no personal statement required) and a CV and a covering letter should be attached. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the reference number CE017 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project.

Closing date for applications: Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as this position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

Further Information
If you are interested in making a contribution to the development of the next generation of power sources please contact Professor Keith Scott, k.scott@newcastle.ac.uk, for further details.