PhD in Mechanical, Electrical And Manufacturing Engineering

This research project proposes the development of a digital and dynamic assurance framework for real-time evaluation of the safe and reliable operation of magnet systems used in fusion energy production. The framework will integrate data-driven models capturing system behaviour from operational and experimental data, physics-based models grounded in electromagnetic and thermal principles, and text-based assurance fragments that formally link evidence to safety claims. The research focuses on synchronisation of digital artefacts, development of a model-based foundation to integrate heterogeneous models, and multi-layered synchronisation links to enable automatic, real-time evaluation of assurance fragments for operational decision-making. The PhD is part of the Fusion Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) with industrial collaboration and co-supervision by a member of staff at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The student will be based at Loughborough University and will engage with a 3-month full-time Fusion Engineering CDT training programme delivered across CDT partner universities (Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool).