Postgraduate research opportunities De-risking the transition to green steel

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Key facts

  • Opens: Friday 14 March 2025
  • Deadline: Wednesday 30 April 2025
  • Number of places: 1
  • Duration: 36 months
  • Funding: Home fee, Stipend

Overview

This PhD studentship supports the transition to green steel by developing decision-making frameworks for manufacturing and policymakers, addressing technical, economic, and regulatory challenges. You will join the Department of Management Science and collaborate with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), leading research on risk modelling. This is a joint project with the Technical University of Braunschweig (TUBS).
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Eligibility

We are looking for you to have a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant quantitative subject, such as mathematics, statistics, engineering, economics, operational research or management science.

We also normally expect a Masters’ degree in a relevant subject, or overseas equivalent. When reviewing your academic achievements, we're particularly interested in grades which relate to independent research (for example, your research project or dissertation).

Strathclyde Business School is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive postgraduate research population. We make decisions on entry by assessing the whole person and not relying solely on academic achievements. On that basis, please ensure that your application (via your CV and covering letter) can evidence your resourcefulness, commitment and resilience as demonstrated by broader professional and life experiences. This evidence should be centred on your ability to undertake and complete a PhD and contribute to a positive PhD community.  

If English isn't your first language, you'll need an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent with no individual element below 5.5.  

THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner
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Project Details

The start date for this opportunity is 1 October 2025.

This project is part of a PhD cluster, involving close collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, NMIS and the Technical University of Braunschweig (TUBS). The aim is to develop a unified decision-making framework to support industry and policymakers in transitioning to green steel. The research will focus on stochastic optimisation models for manufacturing and supply chain networks, systemic risk mitigation through uncertainty modelling, and empirical investigations to enhance sustainability and resilience in manufacturing processes. A key objective is to foster knowledge exchange between Strathclyde and TUBS, delivering industry-relevant solutions through applied research and experimental validation.

This collaborative initiative divides research efforts between two institutions with complementary expertise. At Strathclyde, in partnership with NMIS, the focus will be on risk modelling and decision-making for steel manufacturing. The TUBS team will develop process models to optimise steel manufacturing operations, assess economic and environmental trade-offs, and integrate regulatory conditions with technological advancements. Both groups will work closely through joint workshops, shared datasets, and integrated case studies, maintaining regular collaboration with industry partners to address key challenges in steel decarbonisation.

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Funding details

Fully-funded scholarship for 3 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend. International students are also eligible to apply, but they will need to find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees. Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference. 

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.

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Supervisors

Professor John Quigley

Management Science

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Professor Keith Ridgway

Senior Executive – Manufacturing
National Manufacturing Institute Scotland

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Apply

Your application must include:  

  • A research proposal 
  • An updated curriculum vitae  
  • Details of two academic referees, including email addresses  
  • Degree certificate(s) and academic transcript(s), which must be certified copies  

Number of places: 1

There will be a shortlisting and interview process.

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Management Science

Programme: Management Science

PhD
full-time
Start date: Oct 2025 - Sep 2026