Supervisors: Dr Ettore Barbieri, Prof James Busfield

Project Details:  Lifetime prediction of elastomers is of significant interest, especially now that the working environments that elastomers are being used include both high and low temperatures as well as very high pressures. The aim of this study is to bring together chemical analysis, physical testing and lifetime prediction modelling to evaluate chemical degradation. The study will focus on ageing mechanisms in a range of environments, offering identification of the operating service temperature ranges for specific elastomers together with lifetime predictions at extremes of loading and temperature.

Research Area:  Materials/Functional Nanomaterials 

EPSRC DTA Research Studentship Details
To be eligible for a full award (stipend and fees) applicants must have:
• settled status in the UK, meaning they have no restrictions on how long they can stay and
• been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to Sept 2014. This means they must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or occasional absences) and
• Not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education (This does not apply to UK nationals). 
Note: The above residence requirements/eligibility criteria defined by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and are based on the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997 and subsequent amendments, covering England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. (See:http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/ for more details)
• Full Time research degree programme only
• Applicants will be required to start the degree programme in September/October 2014.
• The studentship arrangement will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend (£15,863 in 2014/15) for up to three years.
• The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline such as Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Science or Materials Science.

Contact Details: For informal enquiries about this position, please contact: Dr. Ettore Barbieri or Prof. James Busfield
E-mail: e.barbieri<στο>qmul.ac.uk & j.busfield<στο>qmul.ac.uk 

Application Method: To apply for this studentship and for entry on to the Materials Science PhD programme (Full Time, Semester 2 start) via the following webpage:http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgrcoursefinder/materials/index.html

Further Guidance available via: http://www.sems.qmul.ac.uk/research/howtoapply/ 

Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2014 EPSRC SEMS EBARB/JJCB’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity. 

For General Enquiries in regards to the application process, email the SEMS Research Administrator on j.hills<στο>qmul.ac.uk