Next-Gen Aluminium Alloys: Pioneering Crash Safety & Strength for Electric Vehicles

Applications are invited for a full-time EPSRC Industrial CASE (ICASE) PhD studentship for the project “Next-Gen Aluminium Alloys: Pioneering Crash Safety & Strength for Electric Vehicles”, at Brunel University London, starting in 2025.

BCAST is a speciality research centre in metallurgy with a focus on processing of metallic materials for lightweighting applications. See www.brunel.ac.uk/bcast for more information. The project is sponsored by Constellium, a global leading manufacturer of high-quality technically advanced aluminium products and systems.

Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) starting from approximately £23,000 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of up to 48 months (4 years)

About the Project:

As the automotive industry accelerates towards electrification, lightweighting is crucial to improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Aluminium alloys are at the forefront of this evolution, especially for structural components in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), where crash safety and high strength are vital. Constellium’s 6XXX series aluminium alloys are essential in achieving these goals. However, the challenge lies in optimizing their performance for enhanced crashworthiness and strength.

This PhD project will focus on the study of alloying additions and their effects on the extrusion process of high-performance automotive aluminium alloys, using advanced physical thermomechanical simulation techniques. Specifically, you will use the state-of-the-art Gleeble 3800-GTC Thermal-Mechanical Physical Simulation system to simulate extrusion processing and optimize the microstructure and texture of aluminium alloys. These insights will help improve crash safety and strength, contributing to the development of next-generation materials for automotive applications.

With access to cutting-edge electron microscopy facilities at BCAST, you’ll explore new possibilities in alloy design and materials processing, making significant contributions to the automotive industry's shift towards lightweight, high-strength materials.

You will have the opportunity to interact with and receive advice from Constellium’s industrial research engineers in addition in addition to receiving expert training from BCAST r

esearchers in the use of the high-end characterisation facilities at BCAST.

For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Ebad Bagherpour at Ebad.Bagherpour@Brunel.ac.uk.

Key Benefits:

Hands-on experience with Gleeble 3800-GTC, a world-class thermomechanical simulator, to push the boundaries of alloy performance.
Collaboration with Constellium, a global leader in high-performance aluminium products, providing real-world industrial insights.
Training in advanced electron microscopy and materials characterization techniques.
Annual stipend starting at approximately £23,000, with full tuition coverage for up to 48 months.

Eligibility

We are looking for candidates with a strong interest in materials science and engineering, particularly in metal processing and characterization. Prior experience with physical thermomechanical simulation and electron microscopy is advantageous but not required.

Successful candidates will be highly motivated, capable of working both independently and collaboratively, and eager to contribute to this forward-thinking project shaping the future of automotive safety.

To be eligible to apply for this studentship, applicants should be “UK Residents” as defined by the EPSRC. Please check your suitability here

To be treated as a home student, candidates must meet one of these criteria:
Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements)
Have settled status
Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements)
Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

How to apply

Please submit your application documents (see list below) in one PDF file by noon on 10 January 2025 to cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk. Interviews will take place in January 2025. Submit your application documents (detailed below) to cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk.

Application Requirements:

Your up-to-date CV;
A personal statement (300-500 words) summarizing your background, skills, and interest in this project;
Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree certificates and transcripts;
Evidence of English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with no section below 6.0), if applicable;
Contact details of two referees, one being an academic staff member from your current or previous institution.

Remember to state the title of the project in the subject of your email.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Ebad Bagherpour Jahromi - Dr Ebad Bagherpour is a Lecturer at BCAST, Brunel University. Before joining this role, he served as a CircularMetal Research Associate, Level-UP research fellow, and RACEForm research fellow at BCAST, held a Post-Doctoral Researcher position at Doshisha University in Japan, worked as a Lecturer at Shiraz University, and held the position of R&D Manager at Shiraz Kahroba Industrial Co. With a wealth of experience spanning over 15 years in the field of metallurgy and materials science, he specialises in mechanical material characterisation, microstructure-properties relationships in materials, cyclic response of metals, forming technologies, dislocation theory, and deformation mechanisms.