Postgraduate research opportunities Enhancing the reliability of rocket performance predictions through advanced uncertainty quantification techniques
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Saturday 10 January 2026
- Deadline: Thursday 30 April 2026
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 4 years
- Funding: Home fee, Travel costs
Overview
This project will develop methods of capturing and modelling uncertainties in mathematical and physics-based simulations, and ground-based testing to enhance design robustness and improve the accuracy of performance predictions, balancing risk, reliability, and efficiency in the design process.Eligibility
This studentship is open to Home applicants only.
You should have a Masters degree or equivalent in aerospace or mechanical engineering, applied maths, applied physics or another relevant discipline. You must be able to demonstrate an interest in engineering, and the space sector. Experience in rocketry is desirable.
Project Details
In this project, the student will be based in the Aerospace Centre of Excellence (ACE) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in partnership with Skyrora Ltd, a leader in the development of small satellite launch vehicles, focusing on sustainability and rapid deployment, including R&D in eco-friendly fuels and advanced manufacturing processes. Given the difficulty of obtaining in-flight data regarding the rocket performance and emissions, and the narrow margins required to balance risk, reliability and cost, much of the performance predictions, which then drive the design, come from ground -based testing and computational simulations.
This project looks at the capturing and modelling the uncertainties related to mathematical- and physics-based modelling, and those generated through on-ground testing. Quantifying both the epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties allows the designer to understand the impact on the design, and performance prediction, and to include measures of robustness into the trade-off matrix.
Funding details
Funding is available to cover tuition fees for UK/home applicants for up to 4 years, a stipend at the UK Research Council rate (£20,780 for 2025/26 and rising in line with UKRI levels in subsequent sessions) and a generous Research Training and Support grant.
Home Students
To be eligible for a fully funded UK home studentship you must:
- Be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and
- Have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and
- Have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/ EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
To apply for this position, please email the following supporting documents to Dr Christie Maddock (christie.maddock@strath.ac.uk).
- CV, including experience in rocketry, student competitions and membership in student societies linked to the space sector.
- a supporting statement (1 or 2 page document) outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research, and any relevant research or work experience including student competitions and internships
- final (or Interim) transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
Number of places: 1
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Contact us
Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Christie Maddock, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Transportation Systems (christie.maddock@strath.ac.uk).