A PhD in biodegradable plastic military training cartridges. Sponsored by a leading an ammunition manufacturing company in Norway. The PhD is fully funded with a travel and consumable budget. There will be time spent in Norway to test materials etc. The PhD will be based at our Shrivenham Campus.

Microplastic pollution has become a major global concern, leading to increasingly strict regulations on the use of plastics. This challenge is particularly significant for training ammunition, where fired cartridge cases and projectiles are dispersed into the environment. Conventional plastics can persist for centuries, contributing to long-term ecological contamination. The student undertaking this project should be knowledgeable of a wide range of biodegradable materials that can with stand explosive heat and dispersion.

A scientific down selection of suitable materials that will be appropriate for the firing of military training ammunition but will also be a sustainable product that biodegrades in the environment, which does not leave hazardous bi-products.

There will be the opportunity to visit and work with the leading ammunition manufacturing company in Norway for several weeks at a time.

Working closely with both the manufacturing company and Cranfield University, the student will engage with industry experts in ammunition production as well as academics specialising in materials and environmental science, gaining a broad range of valuable and transferable skills.

At a glance

  • Application deadline24 Jun 2026
  • Award type(s)PhD
  • Start date05 Oct 2026
  • Duration of award3 years (full-time)
  • EligibilityUK
  • Reference numberCRAN-0078

Supervisor

1st Supervisor: Professor Tracey Temple

2nd Supervisor: Professor Krzysztof Koziol

3rd Supervisor: Professor Frederic Coulon

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a first or second call UK honours degree in material science or engineering. An advantage be with a military background or an understanding.

Funding

Sponsored by A European Manufacturing Company, a student stipend will £21, 805 per year plus fee for three years.

To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be classified as a Home fee status student. Eligibility for Home fee status is determined with reference to UK Department for Education rules. As a guiding principle UK or Irish nationals who are ordinarily resident in either the UK or Republic of Ireland pay Home tuition fees. All other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees. Further advice can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

Diversity and Inclusion at Cranfield

We are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in our CDT program, and warmly encourage applications from students of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. We particularly welcome students with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and those who identify with diverse ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. Cranfield strives to provide an accessible and inclusive environment to enable all doctoral candidates to thrive and achieve their full potential.

At Cranfield, we value our diverse staff and student community and maintain a culture where everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect. This is reflected in our University values of ambition, impact, respect and community. We welcome students and staff from all backgrounds from over 100 countries and support our staff and students to realise their full potential, from academic achievement to mental and physical wellbeing.

We are committed to progressing the diversity and inclusion agenda, for example; gender diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through our Athena SWAN Bronze award and action plan, we are members of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Working Families, and sponsors of International Women in Engineering Day. We are also Disability Confident Level 1 Employers and members of the Business Disability Forum and Stonewall University Champions Programme. 

Cranfield Doctoral Network

Research students at Cranfield benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the Cranfield Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

How to apply

For further information please contact:

Name: Professor Tracey Temple

Email: t.temple@cranfield.ac.uk

If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the online application form.

Please note this studentship is based at our Shrivenham Campus.

Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received. Therefore, we encourage early submission, as the position may be filled before the stated deadline.