Aluminium Alloys for Die Casting / Additive Manufacturing Process

We are recruiting new Doctoral Researchers to our EPSRC funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) PhD studentships starting 1 October 2024. Applications are invited for the project title “Aluminium Alloys for Die Casting / Additive Manufacturing Process”

Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £21,237, including inner London weighting, plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of 42 months (3.5 years).

You should be eligible for home (UK) tuition fees there are a very limited number (no more than three) of studentships available to overseas applicants, including EU nationals, who meet the academic entry criteria including English Language proficiency.

You will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Department of Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology | Brunel University London

The Project

To address the growing demand for high-performance lightweight components, the industry is currently exploring the design of novel alloys capable of offering increased strength while meeting other essential property requirements. The solidification conditions experienced in thin-wall high-pressure die casting bear resemblance to those encountered in certain additive manufacturing processes.

In this research project, a doctoral researcher will endeavour to achieve optimal strengthening of the alloy without compromising its ductility. This will be accomplished through the application of computer-aided alloy design processes, resulting in the creation of high-performance alloy compositions suitable for both die casting and additive manufacturing techniques.

Throughout the project, the scope will be tailored to focus either on die casting or additive manufacturing, depending on its relevance to our industrial partners. The aim is to maximise the impact of the PhD project by aligning it with an ongoing EPSRC-funded initiative.

Please contact Professor Hari Babu Nadendla at mtsthbn@brunel.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the studentships.

Eligibility

Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an Engineering, Applied Maths, Physics or a similar discipline. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage.

Skills and Experience

Applicants will be required to demonstrate the following skills;

Basic understanding in the key metallurgical principles in designing alloys with specific properties
A basic knowledge in solidification/casting processes. 
A deep understanding of microstructure versus the mechanical property relationship
Technical writing

You should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have good communication skills.

How to apply

How to Apply

There are two stages of the application:

1.Applicants must submit the pre-application form via the following link

https://brunel.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/epsrc-dtp-24-25-pre-application-form-brunel-university-lon

by 16.00 on Friday 5th April 2024.

2.If you are shortlisted for the interview, you will be asked to email the following documentation in a single PDF file to cedps-studentships@brunel.ac.uk within 72hrs.

Your up-to-date CV;
Your Undergraduate degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) essential;
Your Postgraduate Masters degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) if applicable;
Your valid English Language qualification of IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in each section) or equivalent, if applicable;
Contact details for TWO referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College.

Applicants should therefore ensure that they have all of this information in case they are shortlisted.

Interviews will take place in April/May 2024.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Hari Nadendla - Professor, BCAST Professor Hari Babu Nadendla joined Brunel University London in 2006. Prior to that he was a Research Fellow (1999-2002), then a Senior Research Fellow (2002-2003) and, ultimately, Advanced Research Fellow (2003-2006) at the University of Cambridge. He has published over 200 papers in international peer reviewed journals and holds 4 international patents. He was awarded the PASREG award of excellence in 2007 for his outstanding contribution to the development and characterisation of bulk high temperatures superconductors. During his post-doctoral career, he received best poster presentation awards. Since joining BCAST, his research has expanded from processing of superconducting materials to understanding the heterogeneous nucleation process during solidification, developing chemical grain refiners for Al and Mg alloys, processing of high performance MMCs using intensive melt shearing, and twin roll casting Al-alloys from a recycled source for automotive application. Academic qualifications: Ph. D (Superconducting materials) Defense Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Univ. Hyderabad, India (1998). M. Sc (Physics & Advanced Electronics), University of Hyderabad, India (1992). B. Sc (Maths, Phys. & Electronics), Nagarjuna University, India (1990). Current position: Professor, BCAST, Institute of Materials and Manufacturing, Brunel University London, UK Previous positions: EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow (Dec'06-Oct'08); BCAST, Brunel University London EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow (Oct'03-Nov'06): Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge The Sackler Fellow (Dec 2004-Dec 2006): Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, UK. Senior Research Associate (Nov'02-Sep'03), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK Leverhulme Special Research Fellow (Dec'00-Nov'02), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge Research Associate (May'98-Nov'00), IRC in Superconductivity, University of Cambridge, UK. Teaching & Supervision: Module leader for ME5601- MSc (Structural Integrity - Metallurgy and Materials module), Mechanical Engineering, Brunel University London, from 2014. Module leader from ME5307/ME5537/ME5601, M.Eng/M.Sc (Advanced Racing Vehicle dynamics, IC Engines, Materials and Manufacturing), from 2017. ME2301 (Level 2, Fluid Dynamics lab, from 2015). Module leader for ME1331 (Level 1, Engneering Materials, 2017-2019). Projects ME3309-3399, 2017-2018. MSc (Adv. Manufac. Methods : Metals, Electro-ceramics, Superconductors, Composites, Nanotechnology, (Nano-devices), School of Engineering, Brunel University London, 2007 - 2010 Teaching (Theory): Ist and IInd year undergraduate Engineering Materials, Cambridge, 2002 - 2006 IVth year B.Eng student project work (Univ of Cambdrige, 2004-2005) Summer research project studentships- 2002 - 2003, 2003 -2004, 2004- 2005 International visiting Ph.D students and students at IRC in collaboration with other academic staff Teaching (Experiments): Materials lab, Part I At and IB undergraduate at Eng. Dept. (1999-2004) Supervised junior post-docs, several Ph. D students and a technician at IRC in Superconductivity for the past 8 years as a senior researcher in the melt processing group headed by Professor D. A. Cardwell. Experimental techniques in winter school program conducted yearly (2001-2006) at IRC in Superconductivity Awards: Innovation and Entrepreneurship (2016), from Brunel University London. Charles Hatchett Award (2016) Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Innovation Award (Nov 2015) from Cast Metals Federation. PASREG award of Excellence (Sept 2007) by the International PASERG Board. Distinctions: Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Fellow of the Institute of Physics Fellow of the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy

Related Research Group(s)

Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) - BCAST is an academic research centre focusing on both fundamental and applied research on solidification of metallic materials.