PhD Studentship in the area of Averaging in Symmetric Hamiltonian Systems |2021-2022 Scholarships Grants

Closing Date: Friday, 29th November 2013

The Department of Mathematics at the University of Surrey invites applications from enthusiastic and well-qualified students for a PhD studentship in the area of Averaging in Symmetric Hamiltonian Systems.

Many mechanical systems have fast and slow time scales and/or small and big spatial scales.

Averaging over fast time scales and small spatial scales typically provides a simpler model system. In many cases, the different time/spatial scales are described by a single small parameter. For instance, an oscillator with a huge spring constant, an example of a mechanical system, displays fast small amplitude oscillations and can be modelled as approximately rigid. Here, the inverse of the spring constant is the small parameter. Furthermore, many important PDEs of continuum mechanics are obtained by modelling many particles as a continuum. In turn, these PDEs are solved numerically by discretising space to deal with a finite number of degrees of freedom. Here, the spatial step-size is the small parameter.

This PhD project deals with the fate of equilibria, periodic orbits, and with solutions that are stationary or periodic after symmetry reduction upon turning on a small parameter.

The project will be supervised by Dr Claudia Wulff in the Dynamical Systems and PDEs Group. The successful candidate will join this group which has an excellent international reputation and a lively community of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Academic members of the group have extensive collaborations and links with other research institutions from around the globe as well as world-leading industries.

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In general, the Department of Mathematics hosts four vibrant and highly rated research groups with interests focusing on themes on the interface between pure and applied mathematics. In the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the Department was ranked 7th out of 42 in the UK for its world-leading research outputs.

For further information about the Dynamical Systems and PDEs Group, see http://www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/dspde/ and about the department, see http://www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/. For details about our PhD Programme please refer to http://www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/study/pgr/.

Entry Requirements.

A good MMath, MPhys or MSc degree or a first class honours degree in mathematics, physical sciences or engineering.

Funding.

The PhD studentships include the tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of about Â£14,000 p.a. All PhD students have access to funding for travel to meetings and conferences.

How to Apply.

Applicants should complete the on-line application form at http://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/physicalsciences/mathematics-phd/.

This application must be accompanied by the following:

Cover letter (one A4 page maximum)

CV including names of academic referees (two A4 pages maximum)

Personal statement including research interests and experience (one A4 page maximum)

Copy of certified transcript including expected or actual degree class (no page limit)

Accepted minimum font size is 11pt. Once the application form is completed, applicants should confirm their submission by e-mail to maths-phd@surrey.ac.uk.

For full consideration, applications should be received no later than Friday, 29th of November 2013. The reviewing process of the applications commences shortly after the deadline.

Informal Enquiries.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to the project supervisor Dr Claudia Wulff (C.Wulff@surrey.ac.uk).