Division of Manufacturing & Process Technologies

The University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering is one of the premier engineering faculties in the UK. The 2014-15 Times Higher Education World University Rankings for Engineering and Technology Teaching placed Nottingham as 7^th in the UK and 74^th in the world for teaching, research and international outlook. The last Research Excellent Framework recognised that more than 98% of research conducted in the Faculty was of international quality, with 85% graded as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) to work as part of the Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group (3DPRG). Located within the Faculty of Engineering, the 3DPRG is widely regarded as the world's leading Centre for Additive Manufacturing research, development and dissemination.

Liquid metal jetting 3D printing is a novel technology developed by the 3DPRG in collaboration with Océ-Technologies B.V.  Liquid metal jetting 3D printing will enable the fabrication of functional components designed to combine the properties of multiple metals. It is envisaged that this technology,exclusive to the 3DPRG, will open up a number of exciting opportunities including, but not limited to, the fabrication of novel electrical conductive componentry, new generation 3D smart devices and structural multi-functional components.

The objective of the present research is to establish the processing condition for printing accurate 2D and 3D metal structures. The candidate will initially investigate the deposition of 2D structures realised by jetting contiguous droplets of a single metallic material (e.g. Sn and Ag). The research will identify the relationship between printing process parameters and the geometry and continuity of the printed structures. The research will investigate the effect of different file inputs and deposition strategies on the precision and accuracy of the printed structures. Based on these findings, the research will progress towards the realisation of accurate 3D latticed structures. The research will reveal the key printing parameters and environmental conditions for an effective layer on layer metal deposition. The candidate should therefore have experience or a strong interest in surface engineering, metallurgy and general material characterisation techniques. This research will be conducted within a wider research team comprising of academics, post-doctoral researchers and technical staff. This exciting research project is industrially highly relevant and of great scientific interest and therefore will offer the candidate the possibility to establish successful industrial and academic collaborations.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees (at the UK/EU rate) and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,863 for the 2014-15 academic year). Students must have a first or upper second class academic qualification in Materials Engineering or a related subject. A Master’s degree in a similar discipline and/or experience in Additive Manufacturing will be an advantage.

Please direct informal enquiries to Prof Richard Hague, via Jill Thurman, email:3dprg<στο>nottingham.ac.uk

To make an application, please send a covering letter stating 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, to 3dprg<στο>nottingham.ac.uk.

Please quote ref: ENG861    

The position will remain open until filled.