This fully funded four-year PhD studentship is offered within Department of Materials at Imperial College London under the supervision of Professor. Mark Wenman. This PhD is supported by the PANDA Nuclear Doctoral Focal Award (Programme for Accelerating Nuclear Development and Applications) with industrial sponsorship from Rolls Royce SMR Ltd.

Pellet-cladding interaction is an issue for reactors that want to be able to manoeuvre in power quickly. As power grids increase in renewables, small modular reactors (SMRs) may need to be able to respond to large changes in power due to grid demands. This PhD will develop and use computational models to develop and assess pellet-cladding interaction (PCI). The research will focus on capturing the coupled thermo‑mechanical behaviour of fuel and cladding during power transients, with particular emphasis on local stress concentrations, pellet cracking and relocation, cladding plasticity, and time‑dependent creep and stress corrosion mechanisms. By moving beyond conventional one‑dimensional PCI modelling approaches, the project seeks to resolve axial and azimuthal effects that become increasingly important under rapid or repeated reactivity insertions.

The developed modelling framework will be applied to representative boron‑free SMR core scenarios, including duty control rod manoeuvres and frequent fault conditions. Where possible, model predictions will be assessed against available experimental data and operating experience to increase confidence in their applicability to safety assessment and design decision‑making.

The outcomes of this research are expected to improve the mechanistic understanding of PCI under SMR‑relevant conditions and to provide a more robust modelling basis for fuel design, operational strategies, and safety case development. Ultimately, the project will support the deployment of boron‑free SMR technologies by enabling more accurate assessment and potentially increased margins against fuel failure during anticipated operational transients and fault conditions.

The student will need to have a good background in mechanics of materials and if possible, have experience with finite element modelling.

PANDA is committed to widening access; we welcome applications from mid-career switchers and those returning from career breaks. This PhD position is suitable for part-time study for those with employment or other personal commitments.

Students will receive an enhanced, tax free, stipend of £26,000 per annum.

Eligibility

A first-class or 2:1 honours degree in a relevant STEM subject (e.g. Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or Mathematics) is preferred. Equivalent industrial experience will also be considered during the eligibility assessment.  

Students are required to be able to achieve MoD Enhanced BPSS status, as a condition of ongoing enrolment and funding. 

Due to conditions of funding, applicants must have Home Fees status and be eligible to work in the UK nuclear industry upon graduation. 

About PANDA 

This studentship is part of the PANDA (Programme for Accelerating Nuclear Development and Applications) Nuclear Doctoral Focal Award. PANDA is a consortium of researchers led by Bangor University and delivered with the universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Derby and Manchester, Imperial College London alongside UK National Nuclear Laboratory. PANDA will train up to 100 doctoral researchers to help meet the UK’s future nuclear, clean energy and defence needs. It is funded by UKRI, the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. 

Alongside your research activities you will undertake a rich programme of events including a training programme that includes Nuclear Science and Engineering; Methods for Innovation and the PANDA Professionalism Programme. Due to our close links with industry, there will be opportunities for extended placements with industrial partners, allowing a deeper understanding of what it is like to be a nuclear professional during your studies. 

This studentship covers full tuition fees at the home student rate and an enhanced tax-free stipend of £28,000 (enhanced stipend of £26,000 + £2000 London weighting). The studentship also comes with access to additional funding in the form of a research training support grant which is available to fund research activities including training events, conference attendance, and placements. Students are also supported by the UKRI family leave and pastoral provisions that apply to UKRI-funded studentships, including maternity, paternity, adoption and neonatal care leave. A PANDA hardship fund is also available.