The University of East Anglia (UEA) offers a fully funded 3.5-year PhD studentship focused on developing advanced finite element models to predict nuclear fuel behavior in reactor environments. Funded by Amentum, the project will use COMSOL Multiphysics to investigate fuel pellet relocation, pellet-cladding interaction, and reactor safety under accident conditions. The scholarship includes full Home-rate tuition fees, an annual tax-free stipend starting at £23,805, and research support funding. This opportunity is restricted to UK students and includes national security vetting requirements.
Important Dates / Deadline
- Application Deadline: November 23, 2026
- Start Date: February 1, 2027
- Funding Duration: 3.5 years
- Study Mode: Full-time
- Project Reference: HAYNEST_U26EMPAMENTUM
Organization
University: University of East Anglia (UEA)
School: School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics
Funding Partner: Amentum
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Thomas Anthony Haynes
Location / Study Destination
Norwich, England, United Kingdom, with research-related travel to Amentum sites.
Who Can Apply
Country Eligibility: Restricted to UK Students, with Security Clearance Requirements.
The studentship is advertised for UK students, with tuition fees covered at the UK Home fee rate. It is not advertised as an unrestricted international scholarship.
Applicants must also be able to meet the project’s security vetting requirements.
Academic eligibility includes:
- A minimum UK Upper Second-Class Honours degree (2:1) in Engineering, Physics, or Materials Science.
- An interest in computational modeling, finite element analysis, and nuclear engineering.
- Willingness to collaborate with Amentum researchers and technical staff.
- Ability to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) vetting during the PhD.
- No impediment to obtaining Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) and/or Security Check (SC) clearance after completing the PhD.
Security clearance eligibility is an important consideration, particularly for applicants with international backgrounds or complex residency histories.
Key Benefits / Funding
The studentship is fully funded by Amentum for 3.5 years.
- Annual Stipend: Starting at £23,805, tax-free, for 2026/27.
- Tuition Fees: Covered at the UK Home fee rate.
- Funding Duration: 3.5 years.
- Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): Substantial additional funding for research-related expenses.
- Laptop: Covered through the research support grant.
- Travel: Funding for visits to Amentum sites.
- Conference Attendance: Financial support for participation in academic conferences.
- Industry Collaboration: Opportunities to work directly with Amentum staff on nuclear engineering research.
Main Requirements
The project aims to improve the modeling of pellet-cladding interaction (PCI), an important factor in predicting nuclear fuel performance and reactor safety.
Existing fuel performance models developed in Abaqus can simulate several mechanical and thermal behaviors. However, COMSOL Multiphysics may allow additional processes to be modeled, including fuel fragment inertia and the movement of multiple chemical species.
The PhD will focus on five research objectives:
- Literature Review: Examine existing nuclear fuel performance codes, particularly their treatment of pellet-cladding interaction.
- COMSOL Model Development: Assess and implement methods for simulating relevant thermal, mechanical, and physical processes in nuclear fuel.
- Model Benchmarking: Compare model performance with published fuel performance codes, including the mortar contact method used in BISON.
- Experimental Validation: Validate model predictions against experimental data and OECD Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) Benchmark results.
- Reactor Safety Applications: Identify future model improvements, including approaches to simulating fuel behavior during postulated loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs).
The research will support improved understanding of nuclear fuel performance in light water reactors and advanced gas-cooled reactors.
How to Apply
Applicants should apply for the advertised PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia using the project reference.
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Thomas Anthony Haynes
Project Reference: HAYNEST_U26EMPAMENTUM
Application steps:
- Review the project description and confirm that your academic qualifications meet the minimum requirements.
- Assess your eligibility for the required national security vetting.
- Identify the studentship using reference HAYNEST_U26EMPAMENTUM.
- Follow the University of East Anglia’s postgraduate research application process.
- Complete the application by November 23, 2026.
Important Notes
- Country Restriction: The studentship is advertised for UK students only. Funding covers tuition fees at the UK Home rate.
- Security Vetting: The successful candidate must obtain BPSS vetting during the PhD and have no impediment to future CTC and/or SC clearance.
- Industry Funding: The studentship is funded by Amentum and involves close collaboration with its technical staff.
- Research Software: COMSOL Multiphysics is central to the project, with benchmarking against Abaqus, BISON, and other nuclear fuel performance codes.
- Nuclear Safety Focus: The project examines fuel behavior and mechanical interaction relevant to reactor operation and accident scenarios.
- Additional Research Support: Funding includes a laptop, travel to Amentum sites, and conference attendance.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must hold at least a 2:1 degree in Engineering, Physics, or Materials Science.