PhD Research Studentship (funded by the STFC)

Division of Materials, Mechanics and Structures

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 and houses state-of-the art experimental facilities.

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3.5 years) based in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham and some of the research activities will take place at ISIS (http://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk).

The post is funded by the STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and the project will involve manufacture and characterisation (including structural analysis) of resorbable phosphate-based glass microspheres for bone repair applications. The student will work under the supervision of Dr Ifty Ahmed, Dr Emma Barney, Dr Andy Kennedy and Professor Alex Hannon (ISIS).

The project will involve production of phosphate-based glass formulations doped with varying modifier oxides. Characterisation in terms of degradation profiles and thermal analysis will be conducted and up to 6 months of this project will be spent at ISIS (with Prof Hannon) learning structural characterisation methods. In addition, novel methods to introduce porosity within the microspheres will also be explored. A key component of this studentship will be focussing on using existing knowledge to scale-up the microsphere manufacturing process.

Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class or good 2:1 honours degree, or a distinction or high merit at MSc level in materials or mechanical engineering, inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering, physics or a closely related discipline. 

• Students should be able to demonstrate an interest in Biomaterials and Bioengineering
• Show some reasonable understanding of how materials are manufactured and characterised
• Show some understanding and interest in structural characterisation at the atomic level
• Must be comfortable with using mathematical equations to describe and model physical processes and structures

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for 3.5 years (of £13,590 per year) for UK/EU students only. The studentship is expected to start on October 1st 2013.

Informal enquiries prior to making an application may be addressed to: Dr Ifty Ahmed (email: ifty.ahmed@nottingham.ac.uk via the Apply button below) or Dr Emma Barney email: Emma.Barney@nottingham.ac.uk). If you are interested in making an application, please contact Dr Ifty Ahmed directly, with a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, and include a CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Interviews will take place at the University of Nottingham. 

Please quote ref. ENG/676. This studentship will remain open until filled.