PhD Studentship in Lightweight Structural Design and Manufacturing

Applications are invited for a PhD research studentship in the field of manufacturing and structural design for lightweight vehicles leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post will be supported by a bursary and fee provided by Imperial College London.

The research work will focus on the development of innovative technologies in metal/composite forming, joining, and structural design, in terms of providing disruptive solutions to vehicle light-weighting. Through the PhD research, you will integrate a fundamental scientific understanding of materials with manufacturing processes relating to materials processing, thus developing microstructural-controlled, cost-effective techniques; or, you will integrate advanced manufacturing techniques with structural design, combining physically based and data driven modelling with deep learning empowered design optimisation, to fully explore the potential of structural performance. The research is oriented from industrial challenges.

You will be a self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for a PhD degree at Imperial College London.

You should be in receipt of, or are due to receive, a first class or equivalent in an undergraduate or integrated Masters degree, in Engineering, Physics, Computing or any other relevant STEM subjects; or if a first class or equivalent has not been achieved, you should be in receipt of (or where this has yet to be received, be able to provide evidence of high performance that will lead to) a distinction in a standalone Master’s qualification. (A high 2:1 degree is acceptable if the applicant can demonstrate significant industrial or research experience and output.) You are expected to have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits; you are also expected to have a demonstrable interest in innovation and interdisciplinary and translational research. Moreover, good communication, team-working, and management skills are also essential.

Principal supervisor of the studentship: Dr Nan Li in the Dyson School of Design Engineering; co-supervisors will be academics in the Dyson School of Design Engineering and/or a different department at Imperial College London. An industrial partner may also be appointed.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/design-engineering

For further details of the post, please contact Dr Nan Li (nan.li@imperial.ac.uk; https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/n.li09). Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Nan Li with GPA included. Suitable candidates will be invited to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be processed by College Registry. Qualified candidates will be interviewed in due course.

Closing date:

The advert will be kept up until the post is filled.

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