University of Bristol Aeroacoustics Projects
Autumn 2025 applications
More will be added during November 2025. You can also suggest your own project, but in 2025 most projects will be the ones funded by our partners.
Br.24.1 Aeroacoustics of Novel Propulsion Systems with GE-DOWTY Propellers
- Project type: Industry-driven
- Supervisors: Prof Mahdi Azarpeyvand, Dr Djamel Rezgui
- Project Partner: GE-DOWTY Propellers
Research topic: We are excited to invite applications for a fully funded PhD position in collaboration with Dowty Propellers. This PhD project will focus on advancing the understanding of the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of wing mounted, tractor propellers and investigating how the propeller’s flow field interacts with the wing. The research will involve exploring a range of propeller configurations, flight and operating conditions and examining the influence of blade design on the formation and evolution of the propeller wake over the wing.
The successful candidate will have access to the state-of-the-art National Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel facilities at the University of Bristol to conduct their experimental investigations. Supported by a highly skilled experimental team, the PhD student will receive comprehensive training in experimental design, facility operation, and advanced techniques for acoustic and flow measurements. In addition to the academic supervisory team at Bristol, the candidate will work closely with industrial supervisors from Dowty Propellers and will have the opportunity to undertake a research placement at Dowty as part of their project.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research with significant real-world impact, while developing expertise in aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and sustainable technology.
Industry partner: This project is funded by Dowty Propellers (GE) and will be conducted in close collaboration with their research team. The PhD student will have regular opportunities to engage with the Dowty team and undertake a placement at Dowty, subject to eligibility.
Br.24.2 Quiet Efficiency: reducing wind noise for low drag cars with Jaguar Land Rover
- Project type: Industry-driven
- Supervisors: Dr Daniel Poole, Prof Mahdi Azarpeyvand
- Project Partner: Jaguar Land Rover
Research topic: We are pleased to invite applications for a PhD position in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), focussing on the development of low noise vehicle shapes to minimise aeroacoustic sources.
The increasing focus on vehicle efficiency will drive the development of new aerodynamic vehicles shapes. Understanding the impact that these future low drag vehicle shapes have on aeroacoustic noise generation is a critical to increasing levels of vehicle refinement in an increasingly competitive sector. Using a combination of experimental and computational approaches, the project will investigate the impact of lower drag vehicle form on aeroacoustic noise generation, including smooth underfloors, automated driving sensors and active aerodynamic devices.
The successful candidate will have access to the National Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel facility at the University of Bristol to conduct these experiments. Throughout the PhD, the researcher will be supported by a strong experimental team and receive extensive training in experimental design, facility operations as well as advanced acoustic and flow measurement techniques. In addition to the supervisory team from the University of Bristol, the candidate will also collaborate closely with industrial supervisors from JLR and will be expected to undertake a placement at JLR as part of the research project.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the cutting-edge research with significant real-world impact while developing skills at the forefront of aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and renewable energy technologies.
Industry partner: This project is funded by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and will be conducted in close collaboration with their research team. The PhD student will have regular opportunities to engage with the JLR team and undertake a placement at Jaguar Land Rover.
Br.24.3 Novel noise control methods for next generation wind turbines with Siemens Gamesa, Renewable Energy
- Project type: Industry-driven
- Supervisors: Prof Dorian Jones, Prof Mahdi Azarpeyvand
- Project Partner: Siemens Gamesa, Renewable Energy
Research topic: We are pleased to invite applications for a PhD position in collaboration with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, focused on developing innovative methods to reduce aerodynamic noise from next-generation wind turbine blades. This project aims to explore how the non-equilibrium state of the blade’s boundary layer can be leveraged to improve the aerodynamic performance and minimize self-noise of the blade, thereby reducing the environmental and community impact of onshore wind turbines.
The research will involve investigating a variety of novel surface treatments (e.g., finlets, vortex generators) designed to induce the desired non-equilibrium state in the boundary layer and its impact to blade noise, utilising state-of-the-art experimental facility and techniques. The successful candidate will have access to the National Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel facility at the University of Bristol to conduct these experiments. Throughout the PhD, the researcher will be supported by a strong experimental team and receive extensive training in experimental design, facility operations as well as advanced acoustic and flow measurement techniques. In addition to the supervisory team from the University of Bristol, the candidate will also collaborate closely with industrial supervisors from Siemens and will have the opportunity to undertake a placement at Siemens as part of the research project.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the cutting-edge research with significant real-world impact while developing skills at the forefront of aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and renewable energy technologies.
Industry partner: This project is funded by Siemens Gamesa and will be conducted in close collaboration with their research team. The PhD student will have regular opportunities to engage with the Siemens Gamesa team and undertake a placement at Siemens.
Aeroacoustics, University of Bristol
The Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Bristol is consistently ranked among the top programs in the UK and worldwide. Known for its world-class research and strong industry partnerships, Bristol’s program is highly regarded for its rigorous degrees, cutting-edge facilities, and focus on innovation.
Bristol’s aeroacoustics group is a global leader in research excellence in aeroacoustics and noise control. The group collaborates with over 20 major industry partners and has active partnerships with more than 50 universities worldwide. Researchers in Bristol’s aeroacoustics team have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel, National Pressure-Neutral Acoustic Wind Tunnel, National Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel, grazing flow impedance tubes, refractive index matching test rigs, and the national propeller testbed. Additionally, the recent £225 million investment in Bristol’s Isambard-AI, the UK’s most powerful supercomputer, provides our students with exceptional access to HPC resources for complex simulations and machine-learning research.
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