PhD Studentship: HALEU Criticality Modelling for Deconversion Process Design and Safety
The University of Manchester
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may b...
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may b...
Opportunity details
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline. This project focuses on improving the understanding and safety assessment of High-Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) processing, with particular emphasis on the deconversion stage where uranium hexafluoride gas is transformed into solid uranium compounds for use in advanced nuclear fuels. Next-generation reactor technologies, including advanced modular reactors, often rely on the use of HALEU fuels. A central challenge in handling HALEU is ensuring criticality safety, which involves understanding and controlling neutron behaviour in uranium-containing systems to prevent unintended criticality. The project will use advanced computational methods, including Monte Carlo neutron transport codes, to model criticality behaviour in deconversion process conditions. It will investigate how temperature, material distribution, powder accumulation, phase changes, and chemical processing conditions impact neutron multiplication during deconversion operations. The successful candidate will develop detailed criticality models representing industrial equipment and operating environments. These models will be used to improve understanding of safety margins and inform the design and operation of future UK fuel cycle facilities. The work will direc...
Eligibility
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. The successful candidate will develop detailed criticality models representing industrial equipment and operating environments. Visits to laboratory and industrial facilities are expected to form part of the research experience.
Requirements
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. The successful candidate will develop detailed criticality models representing industrial equipment and operating environments. Visits to laboratory and industrial facilities are expected to form part of the research experience.
Funding and benefits
Funding eligibility: UK Students. Funding amount: £21,805 tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate and tuition fees will be paid..
How to apply
This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026. We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline. This project focuses on improving the understanding and safety assessment of High-Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) processing, with particular emphasis on the deconversion stage where uranium hexafluoride gas is transformed into solid uranium compounds for use in advanced nuclear fuels. Next-generation reactor technologies, including advanced modular reactors, often rely on the use of HALEU fuels. A central challenge in handling HALEU is ensuring criticality safety, which involves understanding and controlling neutron behaviour in uranium-containing systems to prevent unintended criticality. The project will use advanced computational methods, including Monte Carlo neutron transport codes, to model criticality behaviour in deconversion process conditions. It will investigate how temperature, material distribution, powder accumulation, phase changes, and chemical processing conditions impact neutron multiplication during deconversion operations. The successful candidate will develop detailed criticality models representing industrial equipment and operating environments. These models will be used to improve understanding of safety margins and inform the design and operation of future UK fuel cycle facilities. The work will directly support safer and more efficient nuclear technologies and contribute to improved approaches for assessing criticali...
Open the official application information
Verify the deadline and final conditions on the official provider page before submitting an application.
Benefits
Funding eligibility: UK Students. Funding amount: £21,805 tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate and tuition fees will be paid..
Eligibility summary
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. The successful candidate will develop detailed criticality models representing industrial equipment and operating environments. Visits to laboratory and industrial facilities are expected to form part of the research experience.
Requirements
Application deadline: All year round Research theme: Nuclear Engineering How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. The successful candidate will develop detailed criticality models representing industrial equipment and operating environments. Visits to laboratory and industrial facilities are expected to form part of the research experience.
Documents required
CV
Language/test requirements
Listing-board disclaimer
Prime Scholarship Alerts is a listing board only and does not provide application procedures or guarantee scholarship awards. Verify all requirements, deadlines, fees, and application instructions through the provider before applying.