The University of Warwick is offering a PhD studentship focused on developing a patented near-solidus forging technique to recycle metallic machining waste, known as swarf, into reusable components. The project combines metallurgy, materials engineering, manufacturing processes, and sustainable recycling technologies. Applications are open to UK, EU, and international students, with an advertised funding amount of £21,805.
Important Dates / Deadline
- Application Deadline: November 25, 2026
- Latest Start Date: March 1, 2027
- Study Mode: Full-time
Organization
University: University of Warwick
Research Group: Advanced Steel Research Team
Project Contacts:
- Dr. Carl Slater
- Sumit Hasra
The project is connected to the commercialization of a patented forging technology developed at the University of Warwick.
Location / Study Destination
Coventry, England, United Kingdom, at the University of Warwick.
Who Can Apply
Country Eligibility: Open Worldwide, Including UK, EU, and International Students.
The studentship explicitly lists UK, EU, and international students as eligible. No nationality-specific restriction is indicated in the advertisement.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to applicants interested in:
- Metallurgy and materials science.
- Mechanical and manufacturing engineering.
- Metal forming and forging technologies.
- Sustainable manufacturing and circular economy technologies.
- Microstructural and mechanical characterization of metals.
The project seeks a motivated researcher interested in both fundamental materials science and practical industrial applications.
Key Benefits / Funding
- Advertised Funding Amount: £21,805.
- Research Facilities: Access to advanced materials research and forging activities.
- Research Team: Opportunity to work with academics, researchers, project engineers, and fellow PhD candidates.
- Industrial Relevance: Participation in research supporting the commercialization of a patented recycling process.
- Technical Experience: Practical training in forging, metallurgical analysis, materials testing, and potentially computational modeling.
The advertisement lists £21,805 as the funding amount but does not specify its payment frequency or confirm the extent of tuition fee coverage.
Main Requirements
The successful candidate will investigate how machining waste can be converted directly into reusable metal products through near-solidus forging.
Conventional machining can remove 60% to 90% of a component’s original material, creating swarf that often loses value when mixed with other metal grades. This project aims to preserve material quality and reduce the environmental impact of recycling.
The main research activities include:
- Forging Fundamentals: Develop an understanding of forging methods, metal microstructures, and material deformation mechanisms.
- Near-Solidus Forging Experiments: Investigate the consolidation of pre-compacted metallic swarf at temperatures just below the material’s melting point.
- Process Optimization: Design forging dies and identify suitable combinations of temperature, deformation, and forging rate.
- Material Characterization: Evaluate the microstructural and mechanical properties of forged components and identify the mechanisms responsible for successful bonding.
- Commercial Product Assessment: Support metallurgical testing of products developed through the commercialization process, including consistency and quality assessment.
- Computational Modeling: Potentially develop models to predict strain pathways for different component geometries.
The research will examine several metallic materials, including high-value alloys such as nickel superalloys and stainless steels.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants should contact the project representatives for details about the position and application procedure.
Project Contact 1: Dr. Carl Slater
Email: c.d.slater@warwick.ac.uk
Project Contact 2: Sumit Hasra
Email: sumit.hasra@warwick.ac.uk
Recommended steps:
- Review the project objectives and assess their relevance to your academic and research interests.
- Contact Dr. Carl Slater or Sumit Hasra to request application instructions and clarify funding arrangements.
- Confirm the application requirements and selection process with the project team.
- Complete the required application process by November 25, 2026.
- Ensure availability to begin the PhD no later than March 1, 2027.
Important Notes
- Country Eligibility: Open to UK, EU, and international students. No country-specific restriction is indicated.
- Funding Clarification: The advertised funding amount is £21,805. Applicants should confirm whether this is an annual stipend and whether tuition fees are fully covered, particularly for international students.
- Start Date: Successful applicants must be available to begin by March 1, 2027.
- Patented Technology: The research develops a near-solidus forging technique patented by the University of Warwick.
- Sustainability Focus: The process aims to reduce raw material consumption, preserve valuable alloys, and minimize the carbon footprint of metal recycling.
- Industrial Application: The project runs alongside commercialization activities, offering exposure to practical manufacturing challenges.
- Research Scope: The work combines experimental forging, materials characterization, process optimization, and potential computational modeling.