Organisation/Company Swansea University Department Central Research Field Engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 7 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Country United Kingdom Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number RS983 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Open to: UK fee eligible applicants only
Funding Providers: FOSTER, UKAEA + FSE
Subject Area: Nuclear Fusion
Project Start Date: October 2026 ** (Please see the note belowregardingpotential later start dates.)
**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.
- Professor Perumal Nithiarasu
- Dr Adesola Ademiloye
- James Morris (UKAEA)
Aligned programme of study: Mechanical Engineering, PhD
Mode of study:Full-time
Place of study:Swansea University (Bay Campus)
A fusion power plant is an exceptionally complex multidisciplinary system comprising highly coupled components and interacting physical processes, including magnets, breeder blankets, divertors, plasma systems, and structural materials. The underlying physics spans electromagnetics, thermo-mechanics, plasma dynamics, neutronics, material degradation, and heat transfer. In addition, the manufacturing, construction, and operational challenges associated with tokamak-based systems are substantial.
For sustainable fusion power generation, these tightly coupled systems must operate seamlessly, reliably, and predictably under extreme conditions. This represents not only a major design challenge but also a large-scale optimisation problem due to the strong interdependence between components, materials, and physical processes. At the current stage of fusion development, there is a pressing need for integrated whole-plant modelling frameworks capable of incorporating emerging experimental data, operational knowledge, and multiphysics interactions.
This project will undertake a comprehensive systems-level analysis, starting with two interdependent disciplines, before adding additional disciplines. A hierarchy of computational approaches, including lumped-parameter, reduced-order, and high-fidelity multiphysics models, will be explored. Particular emphasis will be placed on uncovering the relationship between high- and low-fidelity models to uncover, for example, loss of accuracy, speed and/or robustness. Additionally, optimisation and uncertainty quantification techniques with the potential to be applied across the fidelity spectrum will be investigated.
The project will also integrate state-of-the-art machine learning and AI methodologies to accelerate design optimisation, uncertainty quantification, and data integration. Ultimately, the research aims to establish a next-generation federated digital platform capable of linking multiple disciplines and data streams into a unified predictive framework for future fusion power plants.
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here .
Specific Requirements
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here .
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