Postgraduate research opportunities Active Self-Propelled Helices
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Friday 17 April 2026
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 3 years
- Funding: Home fee, International fee, Stipend, Travel costs
Overview
A fully funded three-year PhD position under a Leverhulme-funded project on Active Self-Propelled Helices. The project will develop theoretical and computational models for electrically driven helical microswimmers in three-dimensional fluids, with particular focus on propulsion, interactions, and collective behaviour. It combines analytical approaches with high-fidelity numerical simulations at the interface of fluid mechanics, active matter, scientific computing, and mathematical modelling.Eligibility
Suitable for candidates with a strong Bachelor's degree in mathematics, engineering, physics, or a closely related area.
Applicants should satisfy the University of 欧美高清 research degree entry requirements for Mathematics and Statistics and should normally hold a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent. A demonstrated interest in mathematical modelling, asymptotic methods, partial differential equations, and numerical methods would be particularly valuable.
Desirable background includes a Bachelor's thesis on a relevant topic, a Master's degree in a relevant field, and intermediate or advanced coursework in fluid mechanics, asymptotic methods, and numerical methods.
![THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner](/media/1newwebsite/logos/xthe-award-2019-white.png.pagespeed.ic.pOixGjoLC9.png")
Project Details
The student will work on analytical and computational approaches to model the propulsion and interactions of helical particles in viscous flows. The project develops theoretical and computational models for electrically driven helical microswimmers in three-dimensional fluids, combining high-fidelity numerical simulations with analytical methods to study how geometry, hydrodynamics, and externally applied electric fields influence particle dynamics. The project builds on previous work on Quincke-rotation-driven active particles, including D. Das and E. Lauga, Physical Review Letters 122, 194503 (2019).
There will be opportunities to attend workshops and present work at international conferences.
Further information
Interested candidates should email a CV, academic transcripts, the names of two referees, and their Bachelor's and/or Master's thesis. Two reference letters should also be sent directly to the email specifying the candidate’s name. Interested candidates are encouraged to get in touch for further information about the project. Please visit for further details.
Funding details
This is a funded PhD position supported by the Leverhulme Trust.
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
Number of places: 1
To read how we process personal data, applicants can review our 'Privacy Notice for Student Applicants and Potential Applicants' on our Privacy notices' web page.
Mathematics and Statistics - Statistics
Programme: Mathematics and Statistics - Statistics