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This fully funded PhD Project is open to Home fee applicants only

Northumbria University, Faculty of Science and Environment

Application Deadline: Monday 2nd March, 11:59pm

PhD Start date: As soon as possible

Project Reference: ReNUC26-R/SE/MPEE/Allahham

This funded PhD Project is open to Home fee applicants only

About ReNU⁺

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU⁺) is a collaborative doctoral training programme run by the Universities of Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham. In addition to undertaking an individual scientific research project at one of the three partner Universities, doctoral candidates will have the opportunity to engage with added value training opportunities, for example in business, innovation and internationalisation through a 4-year full time (or longer on part-time) training programme that has been designed to enhance the benefits of a cohort approach to doctoral training. The latest start date is 1st October 2026.

About the Project

Northumbrian Water is developing innovative hydrogen solutions as part of the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future. This PhD will explore hydrogen production opportunities at key Northumbrian Water sites, considering technical feasibility, economic viability, and regulatory considerations. The research will generate insights to inform business planning, investment strategies, and sustainability goals.

As the UK accelerates its hydrogen deployment, the role of water utilities in energy system transformation is increasingly important. This project will:

o  Consider how renewable energy assets might be used for hydrogen production.

o  Review business models and regulatory frameworks for effective integration.

o  Offer detailed insights to guide investment and policy choices.

o  Help shape regional and national decarbonisation strategies.

Key Research Areas

1. Hydrogen in the UK Energy Transition

·      Review hydrogen production costs, infrastructure needs, and deployment timelines.

·      Develop regional hydrogen integration scenarios for the North East and South East.

·      Consider the impact of hydrogen production on water resources.

2. Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Integration

·      Investigate green hydrogen production at Kielder Water Reservoir using hydropower.

·      Explore the feasibility of converting biogas to hydrogen at Howdon.

·      Explore hydrogen integration with biomethane and carbon capture technologies.

·      Review market conditions, policy incentives, and emerging regulations.

·      Develop a hydrogen-based energy ecosystem aligned with Teesside’s industrial hydrogen strategy.

PhD Objectives

This research will develop pathways for hydrogen adoption within Northumbrian Water’s operations by:

o  Exploring the feasibility of hydrogen production at key sites.

o  Developing regional hydrogen deployment models and assessing their impact on infrastructure.

o  Reviewing business models and policy mechanisms for hydrogen integration.

o  Investigating the role of hydrogen in enhancing energy network resilience.

o  Offering robust insights to inform Northumbrian Water’s strategic planning.

 

Who should apply?

We welcome applicants from engineering, energy systems, or related disciplines. Prior experience in hydrogen or water systems is not required; curiosity, analytical thinking, and motivation to work across disciplines are key. The supervisory team will support the student in developing skills in systems modelling, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary research, with opportunities to learn through the ReNU+ CDT cohort environment.

Why Apply?

This fully funded PhD offers:

o  Practical experience in hydrogen energy systems, modelling, and regulatory research.

o  Collaboration with Northumbrian Water, industry experts, and policymakers.

o  Access to advanced research facilities and interdisciplinary training.

o  Contribution to the future of sustainable water-energy systems.

References

[1] Joseph, and el., 2025. Investment decisions in a liberalised energy market with generation and hydrogen-based vector coupling storage in Integrated Energy System: A game-theoretic model-based approach. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

[2] Zhang, T., and el., 2025. A systematic review of modelling methods for studying the integration of hydrogen into energy systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

[3] Allahham, and el., 2023. Primary frequency response from hydrogen-based bidirectional vector coupling storage: modelling and demonstration using power-hardware-in-the-loop simulation. Frontiers in Energy Research

[4] Christy, A., and el., Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the English Water Sector: Historical Trends and Prospects for Mitigation. Available at SSRN 5357169

Academic Enquiries 

This project is supervised by Dr Adib Allahham and Professor Vincent Barrioz. For informal queries, please contact adib.allahham@northumbria.ac.uk. For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please contact Admissions pgr.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk

Eligibility Requirements:

•       Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement. However, a 3 or 2:2 may be considered with relevant work experience, skills and/or expertise that is equivalent, please get in touch with the Institution Director, vincent.barrioz@northumbria.ac.uk for further info.

•       Appropriate IELTS score, if required.

•       Applicants cannot apply if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere. Home applicants can apply for a second PhD under a different research area but international students are advised to check with our admission team fc.pgr.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk

•       Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study.

•       Previous applicants need not reapply, as they will not be considered in this round of recruitment.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must:

•       Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or

•       have settled status, or

•       have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or

•       have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. 

For further details on how to apply see

https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please complete the PhD application form in full, include the advert reference (e.g. ReNU+C26-R/…) and also:

1. Upload degree certificates, transcripts and English qualifications (if applicable).

2. Upload your CV under the ‘Experience section’. This is MANDATORY.

3. In the personal statement section, select ‘no’ and type ‘no personal statement required’ in the box.

4.You don’t need to upload a research proposal. Instead, upload the completed competency assessment form When asked, select “Yes” for ‘Are you applying for a UKRI studentship?’ and then choose ‘EPSRC ReNU Plus’.

5.    Choose ‘Scholarship’ under source of funding

Guidance on how to apply and how to complete the competency questions

Deadline for applications: Monday 2nd March 11:59pm

Start date of course: As soon as possible

Funding Information

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. Studentships are also available for applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis (0.6 FTE - Stipend £13,083 per year and full tuition fees) in combination with work or personal responsibilities). 

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students.  We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community.  The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme.  We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 2nd March 2026 11:59pm

Sustainable Triboelectric Nanogenerators

About the Project

This PhD project focuses on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), an emerging technology that converts ambient mechanical energy, such as human motion and environmental movements, into electrical energy. 

As wearable devices, environmental sensors, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies continue to grow, battery dependence is becoming an increasing limitation. Mechanical energy harvesting using TENGs offers a promising route to supplement or replace batteries in such systems, motivating advances in TENG materials and device design to enhance their performance. 

This PhD project aims to develop high-performance, sustainable nanofibre-based TENGs by integrating recyclable and earth-abundant polymers with controlled nano- and micro-scale structure. The research seeks to enhance the energy output of TENGs while supporting material circularity, low-energy fabrication routes and reduced environmental impact. 

The project will combine materials engineering, microfabrication, electrospinning and computational modelling, using the Department of Engineering cleanroom and laboratories. The research will systematically investigate the effects of fibre diameter, alignment, material polarity and contact-surface architecture on triboelectric charge generation. COMSOL Multiphysics simulations will be used to optimise device geometries, analyse electric-field distributions and reduce experimental iteration, lowering time, cost and environmental footprint. Fabricated TENGs will be experimentally evaluated under controlled mechanical loading to assess output power, charge density, durability and long-term stability. 

The outcomes of this work will advance the fundamental understanding and practical performance of sustainable TENGs, with potential application to future self-powered sensing systems. 

More information about ReNU⁺ and our approach to competency assessment on our website. 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Ensieh Hosseini: Ensieh.hosseini@durham.ac.uk

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 60% in an MEng degree (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) in Electronic Engineering, Materials, Physics or a closely related field. 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

 

How to apply 

For further details on how to apply, and the link to Durham’s Postgraduate Application portal, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

In the Postgraduate Application portal apply for the H1A601 PhD Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (EPSRC RENU CDT) Course.  When completing the form on the application portal:  

• On the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, write RENU/HOSSEINI in the name of the scholarship, and select 1st October 2026 as the start date.  No scholarship documents are required. 
• On the project course details tab write RENU/HOSSEINI in Field of Study. 

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees.  Please note that one scholarship is expected to be offered amongst the two competitive projects at Durham, of which this project is one.   

Deadline for applications: 2nd March 2026 11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2026 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 2nd March 2026 11:59pm

Nature-Inspired Composite Design for Longer-Life Tidal Turbines

About the project

Marine renewables need composite structures that stay lightweight and dependable after years in harsh ocean conditions. This PhD research focuses on tidal turbine blades and structural components subject to marine environments. Tidal devices operate for long periods in cold, corrosive seawater, and composite blades/structures must stay reliable despite water ingress, repeated loading in wet conditions, and freeze–thaw damage. Current carbon-fibre composites can gradually absorb moisture, weaken at internal interfaces and start to separate between layers, which can trigger sudden failures and increase maintenance. The project will develop new, bio-inspired composite designs that better resist seawater and freezing conditions while remaining lightweight and damage-tolerant, supporting higher availability and lower whole-life carbon for tidal energy.  

You will explore how and why conventional composites degrade in realistic marine conditions, then create and test improved designs inspired by nature. One strand takes cues from seashells, which are tough because they guide and slow down cracking; you will build similar “crack-stopping” features into composite laminates. The second strand takes inspiration from plant cell walls, which control how water moves through their structure; you will develop processing approaches that make it harder for seawater to penetrate and for ice to create internal damage. The work is hands-on and experimental, with modelling used to guide design choices and offer insights.  

By the end of the PhD, you will deliver practical outputs relevant to tidal blades: evidence-backed design guidance, and predictive tools, and manufactured demonstrator specimens showing improved durability and toughness under marine exposure. While the underlying ideas may also be useful in other marine sectors, the primary application, testing conditions and success criteria will be defined around tidal turbine blade/structure needs, aligning directly with ReNU⁺’s marine renewable energy training and mission.  

Experience with composites, polymers, testing, modelling or lab work is helpful but not required, training will be provided. The ideal candidate is curious, practical, and keen to work at the interface of materials, mechanics and marine renewable energy.  

More information about ReNU⁺ and our approach to competency assessment on our website. 

 

For informal enquiries please contact:   

Dr Stefan Szyniszewski (stefan.t.szyniszewski@durham.ac.uk) or  

Prof  Heather Knight (p.h.knight@durham.ac.uk).  

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 60% in an MEng degree (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science / Materials Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering (with composites interest), Naval Architecture / Marine Engineering, and Physics (with a practical/engineering focus).
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

 

How to apply 

For further details on how to apply, and the link to Durham’s Postgraduate Application portal, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

In the Postgraduate Application portal apply for the H1A601 PhD Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (EPSRC RENU CDT) Course.  When completing the form on the application portal:  

•  In the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, write RENU/Szyniszewski in the name of the scholarship, and select 1st October 2026 as the start date.  No scholarship documents are required. 
• On the project course details tab write RENU/Szyniszewski in Field of Study. 

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees.  Please note that one scholarship is expected to be offered amongst the two competitive projects at Durham, of which this project is one.   

Deadline for applications: 2nd March 2026 11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2026 

 

 

Why do a PhD?

Learn more about completing a PhD by listening to our academics, students and industry partners discuss the benefits of a PhD qualification via some short videos on our Programmes page.

What our ReNU⁺ CDT Director, Professor Neil Beattie says:

We need a supply of talented next-generation leaders who will drive getting towards Net Zero. Programs like ReNU and ReNU Plus really focus on making sure those people understand the wider context for energy, not just their individual research project, but also things like the energy system, energy policy, and also finance and economics associated with getting towards Net Zero.

 

What our current ReNU CDT students say:

Why did you choose to pursue a PhD?

"I'm a PhD scholar in Northumbria University funded by ReNU. I chose to pursue my PhD because of my passion in material science and engineering and to contribute towards the digital sustainable technologies. "

"I decided to pursue a PhD was because I really enjoyed my master's project and I realized that doing more research would probably be very interesting to me. The long answer is that I've always thought of research as one of the things I wanted to do so it made sense in terms of my future path."

Why did you choose to apply for the ReNU program specifically? 

"I chose to apply in the ReNU program specifically because it focuses on the interdisciplinary research and the renewable energy. ReNU is actually part of three universities that is Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham University. So this gives us more support from various experts in the field and the state of art that we are working on."

"The ReNU training program brings in a lot of support so there's to begin with very wide lectures on what kind of problems we're facing in terms of reaching net zero or just the energy problem. There's also a lot of help with careers advice and stuff like progression."

What would you say are the benefits of being part of a cohort of students?

"The benefits for being part of the cohort of students is that it creates a collaborative environment for everyone and we all can interact with each other and this creates a good support network and exchange of ideas and research which actually helps us in our research. And secondly, with the help of this, we can have access to various labs, be it Northumbria University, be it Durham University or Newcastle University, for example, in my research I need TEM for morphological studies of the films. And it's not in Northumbria University and I'm planning to use the one that is in Durham. So it actually helps to overcome the barriers."

"Being part of a cohort is really motivating for me because I can talk about what I'm facing and find someone with similar problems or find solace in the fact that we're all stuck in the same problems but also it's more than that it's sharing experiences and ways to deal with certain problems that a normal PhD student might not be able to have."

In terms of the ReNU Plus program specifically, what would your advice be to future students who might be interested in that?

"I would highly recommend that they join the ReNU Plus program. They're going to find access to a lot of different resources within the program spanning from biology, physics, electrical engineering and chemistry and they're going to have crossovers with industry partners to find job opportunities as they go further afield."

A key objective for ReNU⁺ CDT is to recruit more diverse and inclusive cohorts of Doctoral Carbon Champions (DCCs).

ReNU⁺ welcomes and encourages applications from candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences such as: 

• candidates from ethnic minorities  
• those from a disadvantaged socio-economic and alternative backgrounds, first generation in their family to go to university  
• those with caring responsibilities 
• those with disabilities (physical, neurodivergent etc…) 

Find out further information at the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page.

Programme Duration: 4 years (Full Time). Studentships are also available for applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis (please check individual adverts for further details).   

Funding: Each studentship supports a full stipend, paid for four years at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees and a Research Training Support Grant (for travel, consumables, and further training). Applications are open only to candidates eligible for Home fees. If you are unsure of your fee status, please refer to this UKCISA webpage to find out your fee status.

Please see individual adverts for details on entry requirements as these vary between university and project. 

If you do not hold the entry requirements but you feel you have evidence of relevant skills and expertise that is equivalent, please get in touch with both the project contact and relevant institution director.    

Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence, and be aware of the following additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship.

Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to the information on https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application otherwise your visa may be refused.

Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be borne by the university. Please see individual adverts for further details of the English Language requirements for the university you are applying to.

Further guidance on how to apply can be found via our Application Resources webpage.

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.