Latest Position Postings

Shuna Ni

About the Project

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship at the Edinburgh Fire Research Centre at The University of Edinburgh. This PhD position provides the opportunity to contribute to ongoing efforts at the Edinburgh Fire Research Centre to apply fundamental principles of physics, chemistry and engineering to characterize the combustion behaviour of wildland vegetation and bio-based materials  

Project Description

The project will provide the opportunity to gain expertise in the development and use of a variety of established and novel measurement instrumentation to monitor and characterize the variation in fuel properties and structure during combustion.

For example, utilizing established methods to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of solid fuel temperatures (e.g. colour pyrometry) and burning rate (continuous mass loss measurements). Alongside developing novel approaches to characterising and quantifying the variation in fuel structure (volume, geometry) and the resulting influence on linked physical properties (e.g. drag force, radiative absorption).

The results obtained will be used to support the development of improved fire behaviour modelling tools and to improve our existing theoretical descriptions of fire spread in porous fuels. This in turn, will support ongoing global efforts to develop improved decision support tools to aid land managers and fire agencies in developing land management and fire management strategies in the natural environment, and to support fire safety engineering design efforts in the built environment.

During this project, you will be part of The Edinburgh Fire Research Centre within the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment. You will join a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of fire in both the natural and built environment. This is a collaborative and friendly environment and strong teamwork and communication skills are therefore required.

Eligibility

Minimum entry qualification – an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. This PhD position would suit motivated candidates from a wide range of academic backgrounds (e.g. Applied Science/Maths/Physics, Engineering, Geosciences etc.) who are interested in applying their existing skillset to problems in fire science, fire engineering and/or wildland fire science.

For more information on how to apply go to:

https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/studying/degrees/postgraduate-research/phd/experimental-fire-science-improved-real-time

Please feel free to contact Dr Zakary Campbell-Lochrie (Z.Campbell.Lochrie@ed.ac.uk) with any questions about this role. The closing date for this role is the 24th January however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.