Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. The transport and deposition of nano-scale particles in the human lung is of significant current interest, whether delivering life-saving drugs or damaging carcinogenic material. The size of the particles changes the nature of the interaction, from sizes where inertial impaction and gravitational settling dominates, to sizes where diffusion is dominant. In addition, the local flow structure and boundary profile play a significant role in the interactions that occur. Nano-particles can have a direct impact on health, so it is important that their transport and deposition mechanisms are understood. However, at this time there is insufficient insight into the processes involved that is supported and validated by experimental evidence. With recent developments in diagnostic techniques and equipment, it is now possible to make a significant impact into this area and provide new understanding. This is an exciting opportunity for a PhD researcher to experimentally investigate flow-particle interactions using state-of-the-art optical diagnostic techniques and develop much-needed insight into the fundamental physical interactions that occur. Investigations will focus on using bespoke test rigs to replicate particular channels and features in the lung. Loughborough University has outstanding research facilities in optical engineering and thermofluids, with a strong research group working in these areas. The successful candidate will primarily be based within the optical engineering research laboratory of the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Manufacturing Engineering.