Grantham Phd studentship with a start date in 2026

The Grantham Institute currently has currently a PhD studentship available, supervised by Dr Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao, Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Grantham Institute.

Further details on the project: Integrated energy, carbon and water management for sustainable data centres across diverse environments (pdf).

Important Information

About the Grantham Studentship

Funding:
The studentship is funded for 3.5 years and includes: 

London weighted UKRI stipend (£23,805 per annum for 26/27) 
Home fees at UKRI indicative fee level (£5,238 per annum for 26/27) 
£5,000 research expenses associated with the project (for consumables, conference attendance and travel associated with the research) 
*Both home and international students are eligible to apply. However, please note that funding covers fees up to the UKRI home fee level only; international students must secure additional funding to cover the remaining tuition fees.*

About the Institute

The Grantham Institute is Imperial’s hub for climate and environment research, innovation and education. We fund PhD studentships and run an interdisciplinary PhD network, encompassing the NERC-funded Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Partnership (SSCP DTP), bringing together researchers from across Imperial for training and cohort opportunities.

About Imperial

Imperial is a world–leading university for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business (STEMB), where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
- 2nd in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
- 1st in Europe and the UK (QS World University Rankings 2025)
- University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2024)
- University of the Year for Graduate Employment (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- Greater proportion of world-leading research than any other UK university (Research Excellence Framework)
- Gold Award (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

How to apply

How to apply: 

Enquiries and applications should be made to Dr Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao (mailto:elvis.cao@imperial.ac.uk) with the following materials:-

  • Statment of Purpose
  • Your CV
  • At least two references (to be sent directly to Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao from the referres.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be sent to Xiangkun (Elvis) Cao (mailto:elvis.cao@imperial.ac.uk).