Eligible students can now apply for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) to work as part of the Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group (3DPRG). Located within the Faculty of Engineering, the 3DPRG is widely regarded as the world’s leading Centre for Additive Manufacturing research, development and dissemination.
Liquid metal jetting 3D printing is a novel technology developed by the 3DPRG in collaboration with Océ-Technologies B.V. By enabling the fabrication of functional components designed to combine the properties of multiple metals, it is envisaged that liquid metal jetting 3D printing will open up a number of exciting opportunities, including: “the fabrication of novel electrical conductive componentry, new generation 3D smart devices and structural multi-functional components.”
According the 3DPRG, “Liquid metal jetting 3D printing is of great scientific value because not only does it offer the typical design freedom associated with additive manufacturing, but it also allows for the possibility of engineering objects composed of different metals during the same printing process. This opens up the possibility to print components with ad hoc designs that optimize the performance of the part while at the same time add new functionality.”
And that is what this scholarship is about, exploring the use of 3D printing with several liquid metallic materials simultaneously. The description of these types of experiments may yield some interesting results. Judging by the description of the scholarship, “The candidate will select ideal material combinations on the basis of their mutual interaction to design novel components with extended functionality. The interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research needs a proactive candidate ready to engage with academic and industrial contacts leaders in various technology fields. This research will be conducted within a wider research team comprising of academics, post-doctoral researchers and technical staff working in a collaborative manner for the success of the technology,”
The studentship covers PhD tuition fees (at the UK/EU rate) and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,863 for the 2014-15 academic year). An additional £2000 a year may be awarded for students with a 1st class degree / MSc Distinction from a UK Russell Group University or equivalent. In order to qualify, students must have a first or upper second class academic qualification in Engineering, Physics or a related subject. A Master’s degree in a similar discipline and/or experience in design for Additive Manufacturing will be advantageous.
