Research Assistant/Associate in Encapsulated Self-Healing Construction Materials

Limit of tenure: 30 June 2016

A position exists for a Research Assistant/Associate to be part of a ?3.1M EPSRC and industry funded project entitled "Materials for Life (M4L): Biomimetic multi-scale damage immunity for construction materials".  The project is a partnership between Cardiff University and the Universities of Bath and Cambridge. The overall aim of this research is to develop an interdisciplinary, multi-scale system utilising a range of technologies to promote and enable self-healing of construction materials over various timescales. In particular this project will focus on conglomerate materials such as concrete, grouts, mortars, grouted soil systems and hydraulically bound materials and will address a range of damage scenarios and a range of structural and geotechnical engineering applications. The project is in collaboration with a large number of industrial partners as well as international academic centres.

The proposed work leverages on ground-breaking developments in structural and geotechnical engineering, materials chemistry, biology and materials science, and in sectors such as the pharmaceutical, medical and polymer composite industries. The technologies that are proposed are microbiological and chemical healing at the micro- and meso-scale and crack control and prevention at the macro scale. This will be achieved through 4 work packages, three of which target the healing at the individual scales (micro/meso/macro), and the fourth which addresses the integration of the individual systems, their compatibility and methods of achieving healing of recurrent damage. The project involves significant collaboration between the work packages. This will then culminate in a number of field trials in partnership with the project industrial collaborators to take this innovation closer to commercialisation.

The work at the University of Cambridge will involve the experimental development of appropriate microencapsulation techniques for the self-healing within cementitious systems for a range of damage scenarios. A range of conventional and novel microencapsulation processes will be investigated and the developed microencapsulated cementitious systems will be tested in the laboratory as well as in full-scale field trials.

The successful candidate will have, or be close to finishing,  a PhD in Civil/Structural/Geotechnical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or any other related field. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in laboratory investigations of construction materials.

The position is available for up to 3 years*. The salary range for a Research Assistant is £24,049 - £27,047 and for a Research Associate £27,854 - £36,298 per annum.

Further details may be obtained from Dr Abir Al-Tabbaa, Department of Engineering, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ +44 (0)1223 332715. To apply, complete form CHRIS /6 available from the Apply link below and email with your CV and covering letter to Dr A. Al-Tabbaa: aa22@cam.ac.uk.

Quote Reference: NA27162

Closing Date: 6th May 2013

Interview Date(s): Interviews will be held with selected candidates as soon as possible after the closing date.

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