Application Deadline: 12^th August 2013
Start date: 2^nd September 2013
Supervisors: Professor Paul Shore
Duration of award: 3 years 

Industrially sponsored within the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing a studentship of up to £19,000 per annum (tax free) plus UK/EU fees* is available

We are seeking a high calibre electrical engineering graduate to undertake research and development leading to new methods and control engineering principles and practices. The created approaches and principles will be applied to a new large scale ultra precision research platform being created at Cranfield. This platform is being developed to be capable of producing rapidly plastic and thin glass film displays and other forms of active substrates for emerging products.

This PhD vacancy is within the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Ultra Precision. This Centre is led by world leading researchers from Cranfield and Cambridge Universities and aims to develop the next generation of production machines, metrology systems and processes.

Industrial sponsorship is available that will increase the EPSRC funding allowance up to a premium rate. All fees will be industrially funded. A short period of industrial placement should be expected. Industrial / academic employment opportunities are very good in this emerging sector.

Nature of research project: To review the control system approaches and principles that can be applied to positioning plastic/glass films of up to 1.4 metres width at high speeds to micrometre levels of accuracy. Subsequently, to develop and then to implement control systems and supporting measuring system that prove high speed control capability for large scale thin films in two directions. It is important to recognise that plastic films and thin glass webs behaviour during processing is not comparable to handling silicon wafers. Understanding of materials properties will be needed to solve this control problem.

Entry requirements: Suitable applicants will be expected to have a First or Upper Second Class honours degree in a relevant electrical engineering, control, mechanical or materials science based discipline. Previous experience in control systems, motion systems, materials handling will be of value.

Contact:
Please contact the following for further discussion:

• Professor Paul Shore (paul.shore@cranfield.ac.uk)
• Paul Morantz (p.morantz@cranfield.ac.uk)

Funding:
*Applicants are eligible for a bursary of up to £19,000 for the duration of the award dependent upon qualifications and experience. Due to funding restrictions this studentship will cover the tuition fees for qualified UK/EU students only. Non UK/EU students are required to pay Cranfield University Tuition Fees.

We require that applicants are under no restrictions regarding how long they can stay in the UK. i.e. have no visa restrictions or applicant has “settled status” and has been “ordinarily resident” in the UK for 3 years prior to start of studies and has not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. All EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have “settled status” in the UK.

How to apply

To apply, please click the Apply button below.