Development of high-performance multi-principal-element (MPE) alloys

For thousands of years, metallic alloys have been developed using the same approach: a single principal element (SPE) is alloyed with a few selected elements to enhance the primary properties. However, this approach may have reached its limits, and we need to go beyond this traditional pathway to materials development before the discovery of society-changing materials. This change of direction is emerging, and recent materials development has demonstrated that metallic materials with multi-principal elements (MPE) offer a unique combination of properties and have the potential to close the materials loop.

The overall alloy development programme aims to develop the scientific principles and technological approaches towards the development of the ultimate metallic alloys for CE based on the MPE concept. This project contributes to slowing (last longer), narrowing (use less), and closing (recycling) the resource loop. This PhD project will form an integral part of the overall alloy development programme and aims to provide guidelines for the experimental search of the “black hole” composition space through advanced computational techniques.

The specific research activities include: (1) understanding the basic characteristics of the “black hole” alloys; (2) identification of suitable evolutionary optimization techniques for searching the “black hole” space; (3) development of guidelines for experimental search; and (4) experimental validation of the selected guidelines.

The funded studentship is £88,918 for up to 4 years duration. Studentship starts from the 1st of October 2021.

The project will be aligned with the newly established Circular Metals Hub hosted by Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) at Brunel University London. You will be interacting daily with researchers and academics in BCAST, Brunel University London and in partner academic and industrials organisations. In this close collaboration lies the foundation for your promising career path.

Enquiries should be directed to Professor Zidong Wang at Zidong.Wang@brunel.ac.uk

Eligibility

For non-UK nationals a proof of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 and more) or the eligible proof of undergraduate education received in English is required.

• You should have or expect to receive by the beginning of this PhD study a first degree (BSc) at 2:1 or above in a suitable engineering and science discipline, e.g., materials science, mechanical engineering, physics or applied mathematics. An MSc level qualification is desirable.

• A strong background in materials science and applied mathematics is desirable as the project includes mathematical modelling and optimisation.

How to apply

Please email the following to Zidong.Wang@brunel.ac.uk AND cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk by the 30 June 2021:

• Your up-to-date CV.

• Your single A4 statement on why would you like to do this project and why do you believe you qualify to do so.

• Copies of your degree(s) certificates(s) and transcripts.

• Evidence of your English proficiency (if applicable).

• Names and contact info of three academic referees.

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Meet the Supervisor: Professor Zidong Wang

Zidong Wang is an IEEE Fellow and Professor of Computing at Brunel University London with research interests in intelligent data analysis, statistical signal processing as well as dynamic systems and control. He has been named as the Hottest Scientific Researcher in 2012 in the area of Big Data Analysis (see http://sciencewatch.com/articles/hottest-research-2012). He was awarded the AvH Research Fellowship in 1996 from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany, the JSPS Research Fellowship in 1998 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the William Mong Distinguished Research Fellowship in 2002 from the University of Hong Kong. Since 1997, He has published around 310 papers in prestigious international journals (including 110 papers in IEEE Transactions) with h-index 60 according to the Web of Science. He is currently serving as an Associate Editor for 12 prestigious journals including 5 IEEE Transactions. His research has been funded by the EU, the Royal Society and the EPSRC.

Research area(s)

Intelligent Data Analysis (Data modelling, Data mining, Data classification, Data quality evaluation, Neural Networks, Fuzzy systems, Statistical identification), Statistical Signal Processing (Digital filter design, Envelope-constrained filter, Signal processing for uncertain systems, Optimal filtering and deconvolution, Multi-rate and filter banks), Dynamical Systems and Control (Stochastic control, Robust control and estimation, H-infinity control, Model reduction, Sampled-data systems, Time-delay systems, Nonlinear systems, Multi-dimensional systems, Fuzzy control, Robot control).

Responsibility

• 2/2012-present: Director of PhD without Residence Programme, Department of Information Systems and Computing, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, U.K.
• 9/2011-present: Chairman of the School\'s Research Ethics Committee, School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, U.K.
• 9/2003-present: Deputy Director of the Centre for Intelligent Data Analysis (CIDA), School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, U.K.
• Executive Editor for Systems Science and Control Engineering (Taylor and Francis) (2012-)
• Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control (2008-)
• Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology (2005-)
• Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Systems (2013-)
• Associate Editor for Asian Journal of Control (2009-)
• Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks (2007-2012)
• Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics - Part C (2004-2012)
• Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing (2003-2007)
• Associate Editor for Circuits, Systems & Signal Processing (2003-2009)
• Action Editor for Neural Networks (2006-)
• Editorial Board Member for IET Control Theory & Applications (2012-)
• Editorial Board Member for International Journal of Systems Science (2005-)
• Editorial Board Member for Neurocomputing (2006-)
• Editorial Board Member for International Journal of General Systems (2006-)
• Editorial Board Member for International Journal of Computer Mathematics (2006-2009)
• Editorial Board Member on the Conference Editorial Board for the IEEE Control Systems Society (2003-)
• Fellow of the IEEE (for contributions to networked control and complex networks) (2014-)
• Member of EPSRC Peer Review College of the UK (2012-)
• Committee Member for IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award (2008)
• Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (2004-)
• Regular Reviewer for Mathematical Reviews, published by American Mathematical Society (1996-)