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The scientific discipline of fluid dynamics is primarily concerned with the measurement, modelling and underlying physics and mathematics of how liquids and gases behave. Almost all natural and manufactured systems involve the flow of fluids, which are often complex. Consequently, an understanding of fluid dynamics is integral to addressing major societal challenges including industrial competitiveness, environmental resilience, the transition to net-zero and improvements to health and healthcare. Fluid dynamics is essential to the transition of the energy sector to a low-carbon future (for example, fluid dynamics simulations coupled with control algorithms can significantly increase wind farm efficiency). It is vital to our understanding and mitigation of climate change, including extreme weather events (for example in designing flood  mitigation schemes). It is key to the digitisation of manufacturing through 3d printing/additive manufacturing and development of new greener processing technologies. In healthcare, computational fluid dynamics in combination with MRI scanning provides individualised modelling of the cardio-vascular system enabling implants such as stents to be designed and tested on computers. Fluid dynamics also shows how to design urban environments and ventilate buildings to prevent the build-up of pollutants and the transmission of pathogens.

Our EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Future Fluid Dynamics offers a four year integrated MSc with PhD programme which tackles fundamental and applied problems providing students from a wide range of academic backgrounds with the opportunity to undertake cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research.

The CDT benefits from membership of the LIFD, a cross-disciplinary research institute bringing together the expertise of over 300 researchers from 12 Schools in 4 Faculties at the University of Leeds. The institute provides a hub to facilitate world-leading research and education in fluid dynamics and to bring interdisciplinary perspectives to complex flow challenges. Further information about Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics.

Application deadline for September 2025 general entry: currently closed.

We are currently recruiting directly to the following PhD project in partnership with Merck "Liquid crystals for augmented reality and virtual reality applications" (Application deadline: Monday 2nd June 2025, UK applicants only)