PhD Studentship: Advancing the Frontier of Robotic Metal Additive Manufacturing through Mechanistic AI
The University of Manchester
Manchester, United Kingdom
General Description – include all relevant details from the source
The University of Manchester invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on advancing robotic metal additive manufacturing through mechanistic artificial intelligence. This research opportunity is hosted within the Laser Processing Research Laboratory (LPRL) in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The project aims to address key limitations in robotic metal additive manufacturing, including complex process dynamics, insufficient process understanding, and the lack of reliable control strategies.
The research will integrate mechanistic modelling with artificial intelligence to develop advanced manufacturing systems capable of intelligent, adaptive metal processing. The PhD candidate will design and implement physics-informed and data-driven AI models to understand process–structure–property relationships in metal additive manufacturing. By combining mechanistic modelling, in-situ sensing, and machine learning techniques, the project will establish predictive frameworks that optimise process parameters, control microstructure evolution, and improve the quality of manufactured components in real time.
The successful candidate will work with advanced robotic platforms to implement adaptive manufacturing strategies that dynamically respond to process variations. The research adopts a “design–manufacture–inspect–model–test” methodology, enabling the candidate to develop a broad range of technical and transferable skills relevant to advanced manufacturing and intelligent production systems. The project ultimately aims to contribute to the development of next-generation smart factories and sustainable high-performance metal manufacturing technologies.
The research will be conducted at the Laser Processing Research Laboratory, which specialises in laser-based advanced manufacturing and materials synthesis. The laboratory houses a dedicated Laser-KUKA robotic cell equipped with a 16 kW IPG laser and both wire and powder feeding systems for robotic additive manufacturing research.
The project will be supervised by Dr Yuze Huang, with co-supervision from Professor Paul Mativenga at The University of Manchester and collaboration from Dr Chu Lun Alex Leung from University College London. The candidate will also work closely with academic and industrial collaborators, including the Photon Science Institute, BP International Centre for Advanced Materials (BP-ICAM), The University of Manchester at Harwell, and the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the standard academic requirements for PhD entry, including:
An upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the project, or
A 2:1 honours degree plus a Master’s degree with merit in a relevant discipline (or international equivalent).
Required expertise/skills
Prior experience or knowledge in additive manufacturing, robotic manufacturing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, physics-based modelling, or numerical simulation.
Familiarity with computational engineering tools such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, or COMSOL Multiphysics is advantageous.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for preparing presentations, technical reports, and journal publications.
Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team including PhD students, researchers, and industry partners.
Salary details
Fully funded studentship including:
Annual tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for the 2025/26 academic year, expected to increase annually)
Full tuition fee coverage for eligible students.
Application Deadline
17 April 2026