Cranfield University in collaboration with The University of Birmingham are seeking highly motivated and accomplished PhD students to conduct cutting-edge research in the degradation of materials under extreme irradiation conditions.

We offer a fully funded program in which Students will receive a 4-year studentship including home tuition fees, UKRI stipend (indicated as £21,383 in 26-27) and a £25k RTSG budget for the project. All costs associated with attending CDT training will be met by the RTSG budget. The project requires close interaction with US national laboratories (NNL, Los Alamos), with ample potential for travel and further collaboration.

Fusion component degradation is inherently tied to how the ,materials they are made of degradation, not only due to the extreme environments to which they will be exposed, but also due to the current lack of experimental capabilities to replicate realistic environments. Fusion technology requires the certification of the mechanical response of components across myriads of service conditions, which are exponentially larger than the available experimental data. In this context, multiscale physics-based modelling arises as an ideal engineering solution. Among the myriads of concerns , embrittlement under prototypic fusion conditions is the most prominent failure mode that engineers must address in design rules to mitigate failure and avoid potential accidental scenarios.

In the last decade, Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) has accelerated innovation by reducing the design cycle time and improving the prognosis of life-cycle degradation. ICME value relies on compiling multi-physics dissimilar data into computational modelling that reduces the cost of extensive time-consuming experiments. Globally, multi-scale and multi-physics computational models are seen as the most promising approach towards holistic optimisation of materials and components for fusion. Their success relies on understanding and mitigating the modelling uncertainty.

However, one of the main drawbacks of this approach is that complex models are often inaccessible to engineer analysts, who do not have abundant data or the expertise to calibrate a model. Certainly, physics-based models like crystal plasticity can be a useful design, but its calibration is often inaccessible to engineers. Thus, most modelling approach do not result in impact because analyst cannot identify with certainty the parameters for a new material of interest.

This EngD work will focus on implementing an engineering model whose parameterisation is simplified, to the point in which predictions can be achieved by knowing the irradiation history of fusion components without further testing. The project will leverage existing technology developments such as material-invariant forest dislocation hardening (as demonstrated by Castelluccio for FCC materials and Kubin with FCC and BCC) to identify hardening parameters that can be shared across materials & be used to guide engineers to develop constitutive models. Secondly, we will address critical fusion first-wall/blanket design-limiting concern of low temperature irradiation-embrittlement (LTHE) which is primarily attributed to the formation of extended defects under irradiation. We will establish a constitutive model that will link the unirradiated and irradiated properties for engineering design.

At a glance

  • Application deadline04 Feb 2026
  • Award type(s)EngD
  • Start date28 Sep 2026
  • Duration of award4 years (full-time)
  • EligibilityUK, Rest of world
  • Reference numberCRAN-0051

Supervisor

1st Supervisor: Dr Gustavo Castelluccio

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline.

Funding

This project is part-funded by a Community Studentship provided by the Fusion Engineering CDT, and hence the student will be based at Cranfield University, but should expect to engage fully with the 3-month full-time training programme in the Fusion Engineering CDT at the start of the course (October to December inclusive). CDT training will be delivered across the CDT partner universities at Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. The training course requires weekly travel to attend in-person training at these universities.

For further information about the CDT programme, please visit the CDT website or send an email.

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: Dr Gustavo Castelluccio
Email: castellg@cranfield.ac.uk 

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

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.