Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of additive manufacturing leading to the award of a PhD degree.  The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK/EU student rate) provided by the EPSRC (circa £20k pa tax free).  The PhD is an EPSRC CASE award and the student will spend at least 3 months of their PhD on placement at Renishaw, the industrial partner and only UK manufacturer of metal additive manufacture machines.  EPSRC candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award.  Please check your suitability at the following web site:http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/Pages/eligibility.aspx

Additive manufacture (AM) of metal alloys is an exciting technology that is being adopted across multiple engineering disciplines.  In the orthopaedic field, the technology is ideally suited to manufacturing implants that interface with bone by building trabecular mesh structures that match the anisotropic stiffness of bone and encourage bone ingrowth.  Our pilot data has demonstrated this successfully with Titanium alloy, but there is also the opportunity to create these structures from Magnesium alloys that can be instantly load bearing, but also degrade over time in the body to be replaced by healthy bone.  By investigating and characterising these structures, the PhD project will push the capability of AM to the limit in terms of materials and resolution of design features, whilst maintaining acceptable metallurgy and bulk material properties. The project will necessarily involve close collaboration with Renishaw, the Mechanics of Materials group, the Department of Materials, andMSk lab based at Charing Cross Hospital and the applicant should be comfortable collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.  The research will be performed in Imperial’s brand new AM facility that includes two laser sintering machines (Renishaw AM250 and Concept MLab).  The deliverables of the project will contribute to a wider EPSRC funded project to deliver new technology for early interventional treatment in osteoarthritis and more information about this project can be found on the EPSRC website. 

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a first or upper second honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A passion for engineering, demonstrated by extra-curricular activities or industrial experience is also desirable.  Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering/research/phdopportunities/.

For further details of the post contact Dr Jonathan Jeffers j.jeffers<στο>imperial.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7594 5471.  Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae and cover letter to Dr Jeffers.  Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Imperial Managers lead by example.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are also an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Two Ticks Employer, and are working in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people