PhD Studentship: Novel solutions for recovery of Additive Manufacturing waste in Motorsport

Project advert

In collaboration with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, we are offering a unique PhD opportunity to investigate how additive manufacturing waste streams can be recovered to retain original mechanical and material properties. This is an interdisciplinary project involving aspects of material science, chemistry, manufacturing, and life cycle assessment that feeds into the organisation's sustainability strategy.

What you’ll do:

• Scope and categorise additive manufacturing waste in F1 motorsport to inform target waste streams with recycling potential.
• Develop solutions for AM waste as an alternative feedstock using chemical depolymerisation or other approaches.
• Explore opportunities to re-use material as an additive or filler product for other processes.
• Investigate sustainability implications and wider impact of developed processes.
• Develop a sustainability playbook for motorsport.
• Gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technologies, including stereolithography (SLA) printing at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One and Manchester Met’s PrintCity.
• Collaborate with experts in additive manufacturing, material science, sustainability and data science, producing impactful research publications while advancing knowledge at the intersection of engineering, sustainability and motorsport.

Project aims and objectives

• Identify the waste streams and prioritise which should be targeted to ensure the maximum impact.
• Develop a novel approach to recycling the material to enable the use of additively manufactured waste as an alternative feedstock.
• Gain a deep understanding of the sensitivities, reliability and robustness of the novel solution.
• Complete a Life Cycle Assessment related to the work.
• Create a sustainability playbook for the recycling of waste streams in motorsport.

Funding

Only Home students can apply. Home tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the three-year and six-month award, which is £5,006 for the year 2025/26. 

The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by the UKRI, currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025/26.

Specific requirements of the candidate

• A minimum of an honours degree at first or upper second class (2:1) level (or equivalent) in Material Science, Chemistry/chemical engineering, or Mechanical Engineering with a focus on sustainbaility, or a related discipline.
• A strong understanding of sustainability related to advanced manufacturing and/or chemical recycling of materials.
• Familiarity with research methodologies, including design of experiments and a basic knowledge of machine learning is an advantage. Experience in working with large datasets is highly desirable.
• Polymer degradation chemistry experience.

How to apply

Professor Carl Diver will lead the project as your Principal Supervisor. Dr. Edward Randviir and Dr. Rachel Dunk will act as your co-supervisors. You are encouraged to apply for this opportunity directly by following the steps outlined below, without an informal discussion.

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full-time PhD in Engineering.

Please include a one-page cover letter and CV of no more than two pages addressing the project’s aims and objectives, demonstrating how the skills you have map to the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest.

If applying online, you will need to upload your statement in the supporting documents section, or email the application form and statement to PGRAdmissions@mmu.ac.uk.

Expected start date: April 2026

Please quote the reference: SciEng-CD-April 2026-Aston Martin Waste

Advert information