Two manufacturing research powerhouses are coming together to forge a new partnership in delivering a PhD aimed to accelerate the design of next-generation airframe structures and engine components.

The University of Sheffield AMRC and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), part of Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), will work together to help the selected student of this PhD explore new ways to manage complex engineering constraints - aimed to find viable design solutions significantly faster and revolutionise this critical aspect of engineering.

David King, head of digital design at the AMRC, said: “This project truly lies at the very forefront of design technology. We are excited to be partnering with QUB and AMIC to tackle this critical design challenge. 

“The selected student will not only develop exceptional skills but will also benefit from opportunities for placements within our centres. This provides a unique chance to work directly with the teams that shape the tools and skills needed by companies all across the UK - developing new ways of dealing with constraints in design systems. 

“This PhD will place the student in a prime position for employment in any advanced aerospace or manufacturing company."

Sam Turner, interim CEO of AMIC at Queen’s University, Belfast said: “We are delighted to collaborate with The University of Sheffield AMRC and support the introduction of this PhD partnership.

“The selected student will be part of the next generation of manufacturing research and will help shape pioneering innovation and technologies for industry and society.

“Under the supervision of Queen’s Professor Mark Price, who will supervise the PhD, this will build on the work within the Re-Imagining Engineering Design team (RIED project) to explore radical new engineering design systems using bio-inspired methodologies. 

“This is a unique opportunity to help develop a future leader in this area.”

The partnership between the AMRC and AMIC offers opportunities for placements in both centres and provides the chance to work with the teams that shape the tools and skills needed by companies all across the UK. 

As the government’s 2050 deadline gets closer for the UK to achieve net zero, the design of a new aeroplane or the engines that propel it, is a complex goal to reach. 

This project brings together the latest advances in technology, for example using AI and machine learning to help manage complex design data relationships and guide designers in their decision making processes - paving the way to a brighter future. 

While QUB’s Re-Imagining Engineering Design (RIED) research programme successfully created novel structural designs, a key challenge remains: helping human designers make viable choices.

As technology and regulations - like for electric vertical take-off and landing  and hydrogen flight - change rapidly, design requirements constantly shift. This creates many new design pathways - and the challenge is to measure and select the solutions with the most future potential. This research aims to deepen understanding of how these iterative requirements influence design to support better decision-making.

The PhD has four key objectives:

• Develop a digital representation of constraints that can be embedded in the design model and to which the design can respond and adapt itself.
• A new methodology and new tools to identify and prioritise constraints enabling navigation and understanding of the design space. 
• Capability to measure and map the effects of constraint changes on the system design.
• Build and deliver a series of workshop activities with our Catapult partners on new ways of dealing with constraints in design systems.

Applications are now open and will close on January 6, 2026. Find out more about the PhD here.