EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing

Ref: ENG/748

The University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering is one of the premier engineering faculties in the UK. The Faculty conducts research that has been recognised by the last Research Assessment Exercise as being world-leading or internationally excellent, placing Nottingham in the UK’s top five universities for engineering. The Faculty is a vibrant and supportive environment in which to work. It provides state-of-the art experimental and computational facilities and attracts leading scholars from around the world, many of whom are leaders in their fields.

Applications are invited for a fully funded industry sponsored PhD studentship (3 years) to work as part of the Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group. Located within the Faculty of Engineering, the Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group is widely regarded as the world’s leading Centre for Additive Manufacturing research, development and dissemination. This studentship is fully funded by PPG Inc. a US Fortune 500 company with specific expertise in polymer materials and coatings.

The research group hosts the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing, which is led from the University of Nottingham with Loughborough University as a partner. The aim of this EPSRC Centre is to work at the forefront of Additive Manufacturing and Three Dimensional (3D) Printing research with a focus on next-generation, multi-material and multifunctional Additive Manufacturing systems for the production of end-use functionalised 3D structures and components.

The aim of this project is to identify the mechanisms and processes associated with the concept of inkjet technology used to deposit polymer materials. This will involve the fabrication of new materials for 3D printing through the development and screening of novel structural polymers. Although operating as part of a collaborative aim, the studentship will primarily research the screening of new materials and chemistries for reactive ink-jet processes, working within a larger group investigating inkjet technology, both inks and the processes themselves and their application in 3D Printing.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,726 for the 2013-14 academic year) for UK/EU students only. An additional £2000 a year may be awarded for students with a 1st class degree / MSc Distinction from a UK Russell Group University or equivalent.

Students must have a first or upper second class academic qualification in Materials Science, Chemistry or Polymer Science or relevant discipline. A Masters degree in a similar discipline and/or experience in the following will be an advantage: polymer characterisation, additive manufacturing, 3d printing, material modelling.

Please direct informal enquiries to Dr Chris Tuck, via the Centre Administrator, Mirela Axinte, email: mirela.axinte@nottingham.ac.uk.

To make an application, please click the ‘Apply’ button below. Please state clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, your research interests and include a CV, academic transcripts and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Please quote ref no: ENG/748

Closing Date: 23 December 2013