A 3 year PhD position is available in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The PhD project is a part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network TRIPOD (Training & Research involving Polymer Optical Devices), which is a European PhD school that commences on October 1, 2013, and will involve 11 new PhD positions (4 in Denmark) and a comprehensive international training program within the technology of polymer optical fibre (POF) sensors at the best labs across Europe.

Responsibililties and tasks
The candidate will design polymer preforms for fibre production and investigate (by numerical modelling) the process chain from the initial casting/moulding of preforms to the drawing of the final fibres. This involves multiple process steps. The candidate will develop technologies for the fabrication of mPOF preforms for partners based on high-Tg TOPAS polymer and mould technology for injection moulding of multiple (polymers) material preforms. Further the candidate should investigate the possibilities for optimization of the existing production method developing alternative technologies. 

The fibres are to be distributed to the partners in TRIPOD for further testing and applications within strain, refractive index, and biosensing, as well as in photoacoustic imaging.

The candidate will work closely with the TRIPOD candidate to be employed at DTU Fotonik (PhD title: Design and fabrication of high temperature TOPAS microstructured polymer optical), who will draw the fibres from the preforms. The candidate will also collaborate closely with the Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej in Poland where some of the polymers will be produced. The candidate will also collaborate with the two other Danish TRIPOD candidates to be employed at the industrial partners Medtronic R&D Diabetes Denmark A/S (PhD title: POF based glucose sensor incorporating grating wavelength filters) and Ibsen Photonics A/S (PhD title: Technology for POF FBG fabrication and interrogation).

Application
To apply, please read the full job advertisement at the Apply button below.

Application deadline: 30 September 2013.

DTU Mechanical Engineering covers the fundamental engineering disciplines within Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering, Energetics, Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Control and Engineering Design, Hydrodynamics, Structural Engineering and Materials. It has a scientific staff of about 100 persons, 100 PhD students and a technical/administrative support staff of 80 persons.

DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and public service. Our staff of 5,000 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society; and our 9,000 students are educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government, and public agencies.