Aluminium Alloys Development for 3-D Printing
This position is now closed.
Applications are invited for a joint EPSRC DTP and industry funded PhD studentship for the project “Aluminium Alloys Development for 3-D Printing” starting in October 2021. Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £17,609 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of forty-eight (48) months (i.e.: 4 Years). Applicants must be eligible for home tuition fees either as a UK or EU national or through another connection to the UK, e.g.: residency.
The successful applicant will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) To meet the demand for producing high-performance lightweight components, the industry is currently exploring the design of novel alloy(s) compositions for 3D printing which could offer higher performance whilst meeting other process requirements for 3D printing. In this project, to obtain optimal properties of the alloy, the doctoral researcher will apply computer-aided alloy design process along with experimental methods and produce high-performance alloy compositions suitable for additive manufacturing processes. The doctoral researcher will be working closely with the industrial partner(s), which will provide additional experience.
Please contact Professor Hari-Babu Nadendla at hari-babu.nadendla@brunel.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the project.
Eligibility
Applicants will be required to demonstrate their understanding, skills and experience in key metallurgical principles, computational modelling, microstructure versus mechanical property relationship, corrosion mechanisms and testing methods.
Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Metallurgy or a similar discipline. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage.
Applicants should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have effective communication skills.
How to apply
Please email your application documents (see list below) by 17:00 on 30 April 2021 to Professor Nadendla and the PGR Office at cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk Interviews will take place in May 2021.
Your up-to-date CV;
Your personal statement (300 to 500 words) summarising your background, skills and experience;
Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Masters degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
Evidence of your English language skills to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent, 6.0 in all sections), if appropriate;
Contact details for TWO referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College.
Remember to state the title of the project at the top of your personal statement.
Meet the Supervisor: Professor Hari-Babu Nadendla
Professor Hari Babu Nadendla joined Brunel University London in 2006. Prior to that he was a Research Fellow (1999-2002), then a Senior Research Fellow (2002-2003) and, ultimately, Advanced Research Fellow (2003-2006) at the University of Cambridge. He has published over 200 papers in international peer reviewed journals and holds 4 international patents. He was awarded the PASREG award of excellence in 2007 for his outstanding contribution to the development and characterisation of bulk high temperatures superconductors. During his post-doctoral career, he received best poster presentation awards. Since joining BCAST, his research has expanded from processing of superconducting materials to understanding the heterogeneous nucleation process during solidification, developing chemical grain refiners for Al and Mg alloys, processing of high performance MMCs using intensive melt shearing, and twin roll casting Al-alloys from a recycled source for automotive application.