Electrical properties and performance of conducting polymer composites

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship for the Successful international applicant will receive an annual stipend of £16,000 plus payment of their full-time international tuition fees for a period of 36 months (three years).

Home candidate will receive the annual stipend of £19,214 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of 36 months (three years).

The successful applicants will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Department of Brunel Composites Centre at Brunel University London (BUL). This exciting research projects

will be based in Cambridge at NSIRC. It is a state-of-the-art postgraduate engineering facility established and managed by structural integrity specialist TWI, working closely with lead academic partner Brunel University, the universities of Cambridge, Manchester, Loughborough, Birmingham, Leicester and a number of leading industrial partners. NSIRC aims to deliver cutting edge research and highly qualified personnel to its key industrial partners.

Objectives of the project:

Provide a deeper understanding of how current flows in composite materials
Know how to exploit the electrical properties of composites to improve the quality of manufacturing
Have the capability to improve the performance of composite parts that rely on their electrical properties and performance
Know how to measure electrical properties considering fibre anisotropy and electrical current frequency
Build the foundation simulation tools to enable design and optimisation of composites in electrical applications
Provide innovation in composite materials that exploits their unique electrical behaviour

Applicants will be required to demonstrate:

Evidence of IT literacy, including proficiency in Excel and databases.
Evidence of independent, original research.
Deep understanding and proven experience with composite materials and their applications.
Proven experience in multi-physics finite element (FE) modelling, including electrical and structural modelling using commercial software.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, particularly in presenting research results to both specialists and non-specialists.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Please contact Nithin Amirth Jayasree at nithin.jayasree@brunel.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the project.

Eligibility

Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Mathematics, Physics or a similar discipline. A Postgraduate Master’s degree is not required but may be an advantage.

Experience in electromagnetics characterisation and modelling is an advantage. In addition, applicants should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have effective communication skills.

How to apply

Please submit your application documents in ONE PDF file (see list below) by Noon on 31 May 2024 to

cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk

Your up-to-date CV;
Your personal statement (300 to 500 words) summarising your background, skills and experience;
Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Master’s degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
Evidence of your English language skills to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent, 6.0 in all sections), if appropriate;
Contact details for TWO referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College.

Remember to state the title of the project at the top of your personal statement.

Interviews will take place in June 2024.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Nithin Amirth Jayasree - Nithin is a Team Leader at the Brunel Composites Centre (BCC). He is currently leading the composite modelling and testing team at BCC and his work includes multiscale modelling of materials including composites, CFD, materials research, and composite processing including thermoset infusion & RTM. He is working in multiple Innovate UK, Horizon 2020 and Cleansky projects. He completed his PhD at the Politechnico di Torino, Italy in 2017 on process simulations of thermoplastic composite materials.

Related Research Group(s)

Brunel Composites Centre - Shared research and technology capabilities, specialising in novel composites processing and joining technologies applied to industrial environments.