Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing, The University of Nottingham

Applications are invited to undertake a 3 year PhD programme in partnership with industry to address key challenges in on-platform manufacturing engineering. The successful candidate will be based at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Manufacturing Technology at The University of Nottingham. Having state-of-the-art purpose built facilities, the UTC offers a world-class environment for the realisation of high impact research projects.

The Rolls-Royce funded Studentship is the result of the expanding machining activities sponsored at the Rolls-Royce UTC dealing with in-depth investigations of the response of difficult-to-cut materials to various machining operations in the scope of robust manufacture of safety critical aero-engine components.

The project will deal with the influence of different machining operations to understand the correlation between metallurgical aspects and machinability of the new composite materials to efficiently support the manufacture of aerospace components. This will involve using a wide range of sophisticated testing and analysis techniques including Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) for residual stress measurements as well as with development of innovative cutting tool solutions to address the notoriously low machinability of this group of materials.

This project will involve develop new concepts of cutting tools (manufactured in-house), machining trials, workpiece surface quality analysis (e.g. metallurgy, integrity, residual stresses), followed by investigations on innovative methods to evaluate the machinability of novel composite materials. Internationally recognised Rolls-Royce specialists in the field will be available throughout the project to provide the PhD student with support and guidance if required.

For mutual interest the project can be offered as a "package" - this will include:

• Appropriate training within Rolls-Royce for a period to be agreed. The training will enable the understanding of the technical issues related to the project, as well as developing a good partnership with the appropriate technical teams.
• Joint academic and industrial supervision.  In this way, the student will develop both academic and industrial skills with multiple career opportunities at the end of the PhD study.
• For PhD students wishing to pursue an academic career, the opportunity to participate in teaching activities will be sought.

The bursary covers the tuition fees and provides a tax-free stipend of approximately £13,726 per year for the duration of the project (three years). 

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic first or upper second class graduate in mechanical/manufacturing/materials science/physics to build strong knowledge in both manufacturing and material science while building strong relationships with both academic and industrial areas at international level. Graduates finishing their degrees in June 2014 are also encouraged to apply. Due to the nature of funding only UK/EU applicants can be considered for this position.

Position open until filled

Please contact the UTC director for further information. UTC director: Prof. Dragos Axinte
Email: dragos.axinte<στο>nottingham.ac.uk