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 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.

The aim of this project is to reduce the internal stresses that are typically associated with Selective Laser Melting (SLM) of metallic materials. One of the main barriers against a wider adoption of SLM is that parts are rarely employed after printing without the addition of lengthy post heat treatments and extensive manual intervention. The ability to reduce the internal stresses that develop during printing would for example enable the printing of parts with better material quality and minimal (if any) supporting structures. This research will be conducted within a wider research team comprising of academics, post-doctoral researchers and technical staff. Operating as part of a collaborative aim, the candidate will primarily research, develop and apply new concepts to minimise the internal stresses that develop during SLM. The research will require good understanding of metallurgy and mechanical engineering. 

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,590 for the 2014-15 academic year) for UK/EU students. 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 Material, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or a related subject. A Masters degree in a similar discipline and/or experience in the Additive Manufacturing will be an advantage.

Please direct informal enquiries to Prof Richard Hague, via Lana Vuletic, email:lana.vuletic@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 lana.vuletic<στο>nottingham.ac.uk. The position will remain open until filled.

For further information, please visit: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/currentvacancies/ref/ENG807