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PhD Research Studentship: Dielectric spectroscopy and high strain rate properties of polymers

  • Reference: ENG1369
  • Closing Date: Saturday, 30th May 2020
  • Department: Engineering

THIS POSITION IS NOW FILLED

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3.5 years) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. The aim of the research is to investigate the relationships between dielectric spectroscopy and mechanical properties of polymers. Dielectric measurements enable probing of polymer behaviour at very high frequencies, which should offer new insight into the mechanical properties of polymers at impact conditions of high strain rates. The successful applicant will work collaboratively with a team of researchers at the University of Nottingham and the University of Oxford currently supported by the Dutch Polymer Institute, where work is on-going on the measurement and modelling of high strain rate properties of polymers, as well as with major collaborating polymer companies, and is expected to engage with further international collaborations. The student will work under the supervision of Dr Davide De Focatiis, on the development of techniques and theories for relating dielectric measurements and mechanical measurements, making use of existing experiments and guiding future efforts. By understanding some of the structure-property relationships, feedback can be provided towards constitutive modelling development and to the development of materials more tailored to specific high strain rate response.

Requirements of the studentship:

Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class degree, or a distinction at MSc level in materials engineering, mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline (a high 2:1 or high merit will be considered). Students should be able to demonstrate an interest in polymer materials and materials testing, and excellent written and oral presentation skills. Previous experience with mechanical and dielectric testing of polymers is helpful.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three and a half years (£15,285 for the 2020-2021 academic year) for UK/EU students. International students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the PhD in October 2020 may also apply. The studentship is expected to start in October 2020.

Informal enquiries prior to making an application, may be addressed to: Dr Davide De Focatiis, email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk.If you are interested in making an application, please contact Dr Davide De Focatiis directly, by email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk, with a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, and include a CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Interviews will take place at the University of Nottingham.

Please apply here.

When applying for this studentship, please include the reference number (beginning ENG and supervisors name) within the personal statement section of the application. This will help in ensuring your application is sent directly to the academic advertising the studentship.

Please quote ref. ENG1369. Closing date: 30 May 2020

More information here.

Fully Funded PhD Research Studentship: Characterisation of novel polymers from Terpenes

  • Reference: ENG951
  • Closing Date: Friday, 11th March 2016
  • Department: Engineering

THIS POSITION IS NOW FILLED.

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. The aim of the research is to study a new family of polymeric materials synthesised from Terpenes – molecules present in citrus and other waste. This is an exciting opportunity for the student to be the first to characterise materials properties of a totally new family of plastic materials made from renewable sources, and to help to identify and shape possible markets and applications. The successful applicant will work as part of a larger team on a Research Council funded project, in collaboration with the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, and with four major European polymer companies. The student will work under the supervision of Dr Davide De Focatiis and Dr Derek Irvine, on the characterisation and the development of experimental techniques for small scale polymer samples, including mechanical, thermal and rheological properties. Materials will be synthesised by collaborators from the School of Chemistry, typically in small batches prior to scale-up. By understanding some of the structure-property relationships, feedback can be provided to the synthesis to help to develop better and more targeted materials for specific applications.

Requirements of the studentship:

Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class degree, or a distinction at MSc level in materials engineering, mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline (a high 2:1 or high merit will be considered). Students should be able to demonstrate an interest in polymer materials and materials testing, and excellent written and oral presentation skills. Previous experience with mechanical, thermal and rheological testing of polymers is helpful.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£14,057 for the 2015-16 academic year) for UK/EU students. 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. International students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the PhD in September 2016 may also apply. The studentship is expected to start in September 2016.

Informal enquiries prior to making an application, may be addressed to: Dr Davide De Focatiis, email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk.If you are interested in making an application, please contact Dr Davide De Focatiis directly, by email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk, with a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, and include a CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Interviews will take place at the University of Nottingham.

Please quote ref. ENG/951. Closing date: 11 March 2016

More information here.

Research Associate/Fellow in

Processing of Bioresorbable Nanocomposite Materials (24 months fixed-term)

  • Reference ENG645.
  • Closing Date Friday, 7th December 2012.
  • Salary £24520 to £27578 per annum, depending on skills and experience (minimum £27,578 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
  • Available from 1st February 2013 for a period of 24 months.

THIS POSITION IS NOW FILLED.

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral Research Associate/Fellow to work as part of an interdisciplinary team on the project “Integrated Molecular Design of Melt-processable Bioresorbable Engineering Nanocomposites for Health-Care” (BENcH). The project is funded by the EPSRC and is based in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham, with expertise drawn from a number of other departments.

The BENcH project is a collaboration brought together to design and manufacture novel polymer nanocomposite materials for healthcare. The composites will comprise unique nanoparticles, selected blends of medical grade degradable polymer and specifically tailored molecular dispersants. Optimised production methodologies will be applied at scale on industrial equipment to produce demonstrator resorbable implants with specific structural attributes and degradation timescales. BENcH is supported by a number of key industrial partners, and is expected to make a significant impact in the healthcare sector.

The successful candidate will be expected to operate a compounding facility for the production of polymeric nanocomposites, and to optimise the processing for dispersion of nanoparticles with respect to long term mechanical and degradation properties. He/she will also be expected to develop the techniques and methods for characterisation, and to assemble predictive models. The successful candidate will be responsible for the production of regular interim reports and presentations to the project partners and for the publication of new results. He/she will work as part of an interdisciplinary team of four post-doctoral researchers and several PhD students.

Candidates must hold or expect to obtain shortly a PhD, or an equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering or a closely related Science or Engineering discipline, involving polymer science and engineering. Candidates must be able to demonstrate practical experience of polymer processing and characterisation procedures relevant to polymeric materials.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Davide De Focatiis, email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted. To apply online, please follow the link here. More information is available here.

PhD Research Studentship 2013

The role of degradable polymers in nanocomposite medical implants

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) in the Research Division of Materials, Mechanics and Structures to work as part of an interdisciplinary team on the project “Integrated Molecular Design of Melt-processable Bioresorbable Engineering Nanocomposites for Health-Care” (BENcH). The BENcH project is based in the Faculty of Engineering, with expertise drawn from a number of other departments. It is a collaboration brought together to design and manufacture novel polymer nanocomposite materials for healthcare. The composites will comprise unique nanoparticles, selected blends of medical grade degradable polymer and specifically tailored molecular dispersants. Optimised production methodologies will be applied at scale on industrial equipment to produce demonstrator resorbable implants with specific structural attributes and degradation timescales. BENcH is supported by a number of key industrial partners, and is expected to make a significant impact in the healthcare sector.

The focus of the studentship will be on the material properties of the degradable polymers: in particular the rheology of the polymer melt and its role on the dispersion of nanoparticles; and the role played by the polymer on implant mechanical properties over time during degradation. The studentship will involve training on a wide range of cutting-edge experimental techniques and modelling approaches and theory contributing to the design of the materials. The student will work under the supervision of Dr Davide De Focatiis as part of a vibrant interdisciplinary team of four post-doctoral researchers and several other PhD students.

Requirements of the studentship:

  1. Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class or good 2:1 honours degree, or a distinction or high merit at MSc level in materials engineering, mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline that includes courses in polymer science and/or engineering.
  2. Students should be able to demonstrate an interest in polymer engineering and materials testing, and should have good written and oral presentation skills. Previous experience with polymer processing and/or testing would be beneficial.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,590 for the 2012-13 academic year) for UK/EU students. 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. The studentship will start no later than September 2013.

PhD Research Studentship 2013

Manufacturing and engineering properties of oriented glassy polymers

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship to join the growing Polymer Engineering research group based in the Research Division of Materials, Mechanics and Structures (Faculty of Engineering) at the University of Nottingham, a global top 75 University. The student will work in a dynamic research environment and as part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers working towards a more complete understanding of the way in which polymer structure and manufacturing, or processing, influence the properties of plastic products. The research will involve interaction with polymer chemists who will provide especially synthesised materials, with polymer physicists developing the latest theories of polymer rheology, and with materials scientists based at large scale test facilities in the UK and Europe. The aim is to make manufacturing with existing polymeric materials more efficient and reliable, and to assist with the design of the next generation of polymeric products.

The student will design and carry out experiments designed to probe the role of molecular orientation on final mechanical properties of glassy polymers, assist in the development of a numerical model for the prediction of such properties, and present the research locally and at international conferences. The project will also involve interaction with and knowledge transfer to two global polymer manufacturers, who, as industry partners, have a direct interest in the research. Training in experiments, theory and research methodology will be provided, and will form an excellent basis for a career in either academic research or embedded in an industrial R&D laboratory.

Requirements of the studentship:

  1. Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class or good 2:1 honours degree, or a distinction or high merit at MSc level (or international equivalent), in mechanical or materials engineering. Closely related disciplines such as applied physics with relevant background will also be considered.
  2. Students should be able to demonstrate an interest in polymer engineering, materials testing and numerical modelling, and should have excellent written and oral presentation skills. Previous experience with mechanical testing and with software tools such as Matlab and Abaqus would be beneficial.

The studentship will cover full PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,590 for the 2012-13 academic year) for UK/EU students. 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. International students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the PhD may also apply. The studentship is expected to start in September 2013.

Research Associate/Fellow in Polymer Engineering (Fixed-term) 2012

Solid-state Property Predictions of Bimodal Blends and Polydisperse Oriented Polymers

Salary: £24,520 - £27,578 per annum, depending on skills and experience (£27,578 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this range is subject to performance.

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral Research Associate/Fellow to work on the project "Solid-state Property Predictions of Bimodal Blends and Polydisperse Oriented Polymers", funded by the EPSRC, in the Polymer Engineering group at the University of Nottingham, and in collaboration with the School of Mathematics at Nottingham, the Department of Chemistry at Durham, and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. The project aims to develop and validate a constitutive model enabling the prediction of solid-state properties of oriented polymer products manufactured from commercial polydisperse polymers. As a route to achieve this, a model will first be implemented on bimodal blends of model monodisperse polymers, and validated with the help of a neutron scattering study. The Research Associate/Fellow will work on the development of the theory and implementation of the constitutive models, and will lead the experimental programme preparing the oriented polymer specimens for scattering experiments and performing characterisation of solid-state properties. He/she will also be responsible for the regular production of interim reports and presentations to the steering committee, and for the publication of new results. A project summary is available here.

Candidates must hold or expect to shortly obtain a PhD, or equivalent in polymer engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, polymer physics or a closely related discipline. Candidates must be able to demonstrate practical experience of materials characterisation techniques relevant to polymeric materials, of research in polymer engineering, and of either programming using Matlab or similar tools for materials modelling, or mechanical characterisation of polymer properties.

This full time post, is available from 1 June 2012 and will be offered on a fixed term contract for a period of 12 months. The latest available start date is 1 September 2012.

PhD Research Studentship 2012

Solid-state Properties of Processed Branched Polymers

  • Reference: ENG584
  • Closing Date: Friday, 27th April 2012

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) in the Research Division of Materials, Mechanics and Structures in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. The aim of the research is to develop and validate experimentally a constitutive model for the prediction of solid-state properties of oriented branched polymers. Long-chain branched polymers play an important role in industrial polymer processing, primarily in products where large elongations take place during stretching, such as blown films. Where the branches are shorter, they can play a different role, as viscosity modifiers. A model able to account for the molecular structure of the polymer will be of considerable industrial value, facilitating the development of improved polymer processes, and the tailoring of particular polymers to processes and applications. The successful applicant will contribute to an EPSRC funded project within the Polymer Engineering group at the University of Nottingham, and in collaboration with other researchers in Nottingham, the UK and abroad. The student will work under the supervision of Dr Davide De Focatiis and in collaboration with senior researchers on the development of experimental techniques and of a constitutive model.

Requirements of the studentship:

  1. Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class or good 2:1 honours degree, or a distinction or high merit at MSc level in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, applied mathematics or a closely related discipline.
  2. Students should be able to demonstrate an interest in polymer engineering, materials testing and numerical modelling, and should have good written and oral presentation skills. Previous experience with polymer testing and with software tools such as Matlab and Abaqus would be beneficial.

The studentship will cover PhD tuition fees and a tax free stipend for three years (£13,590 for the 2011-12 academic year) for UK/EU students. 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. International students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the PhD in September 2012 may also apply. The studentship is expected to start in September 2012.

Informal enquiries prior to making an application, may be addressed to: Dr Davide De Focatiis, email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk. If you are interested in making an application, please contact Dr Davide De Focatiis directly, email: davide.defocatiis@nottingham.ac.uk with a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, and include a CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Interviews will take place at the University of Nottingham.

Summer studentship 2011

Medical polymers for degradable implants: linear and non-linear creep


Crazes in a degraded PLA polymer

Degradable polymer implants have enormous potential in aiding the healing and recovery of injuries such as bone fractures in a carefully controlled way, and to avoid the need for the removal of metal implants after healing. In low risk applications there are already a number of polymer implants on the market. The Composites group at Nottingham has been working for some time to extend this to more demanding applications, where an understanding of the properties of the polymer during the degradation process becomes crucial. Over the past two summers, ERP students have researched into two main topics: the kinetics of craze initiation in degrading polymers, and the simultaneous evolution of crystallisation and degradation. The work so far has been very successful, and has led to a conference paper and to a journal article in preparation. The research can now attempt to move on to the measurement and prediction of the creep response of degrading polymers. This project will involve the manufacture and controlled degradation of poly(lactic acid) specimens, followed by a number of creep experiments performed in water at body temperature. The design of the experiments and protocol is crucial in maximising the amount of useful information, and in extracting material parameters suitable for possible modelling.

This project would ideally suit an MEng student in either Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering, although other students can be considered. No special qualifications required though some understanding of polymeric materials and materials characterisation would be an advantage. Training in the use of the equipment will be provided. Supervisors: Dr Davide De Focatiis and Dr Andy Parsons.

Summer studentship 2011

A resistivity text fixture for nanocomposite characterisation


The schematics of a resistivity test fixture

Our research group is investigating ways of making polymers electrically conductive by the addition of conductive nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes. The properties of these nanocomposites depend not only on the nanotube content, but also on the processing history (since this has a significant effect on nanotube dispersion). Currently we are able to produce carbon nanotube nanocomposites based on polycarbonate and on thermoplastic polyurethane (an elastomer). In order to determine the electrical properties of these nanocomposites, we need to build a resistivity test fixture. Electrical resistivity is a geometry-independent measure of the ability of a material to resist the flow of electrical current. The fixture should ideally be able to measure both surface and volume resistivity, interfacing with our dedicated electrometer. The project will involve the design, construction and validation of a resistivity test fixture. The design of the fixture has to ensure a repeatable contact between electrodes and material, and appropriate shielding from electrical interference. The contact between the electrodes and the material will be facilitated by a conductive elastomer.

This project would ideally suit an MEng student in Mechanical Engineering, with good design skills and some ability to manufacture parts, although other students can be considered (eg. from Electrical Engineering or Chemical Engineering). No special qualifications required though an interest in materials science would be an advantage. Training in the use of the equipment and in electrical characterisation of materials will be provided. Supervisors: Dr Davide De Focatiis and Gabriel Choong.

Summer studentship 2011

Characterisation of a new polymer


A dendrimer and a hyperbranched polymer

Dr Derek Irvine’s research group has recently developed a novel technique to produce small quantities of a totally new polymer: poly(divinyl benzene). This polymer is structurally very similar to ordinary polystyrene, which consists of a carbon backbone chain with one benzene ring every two carbon atoms. Poly(divinyl benzene) has two benzene rings on opposite sides of the molecule every two carbon atoms. At the moment very little is known about the properties of this polymer; although it is expected to be broadly similar to polystyrene, it may result in a range of interesting properties and applications. The synthesis technique produces a resulting polymer with a high degree of chain branching, known as hyperbranched. The technique also allows for the production of random copolymers of styrene and divinyl benzene. This project will involve the production and characterisation of small quantities of poly(divinyl benzene) and copolymers with polystyrene. Synthesis will take place in the Chemistry department, and characterisation will involve analytical measurements of molecular weight, glass transition temperature and simple mechanical properties.

This project would ideally suit an MEng student in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering, with good laboratory skills and the ability to think critically. An interest in polymers and/or chemistry would be an advantage. Training in the use of the analytical equipment will be provided. Supervisors: Dr Derek Irvine and Dr Davide De Focatiis.

Summer studentship 2010

Medical polymers for degradable implants: a study of the structure and properties during degradation


Crazes in a degraded PLA polymer

Degradable polymer implants have enormous potential in aiding the healing and recovery of injuries such as bone fractures in a carefully controlled way, and to avoid the need for the removal of metal implants after healing. In low risk applications there are already a number of polymer implants on the market. The Composites group at Nottingham has been working for some time to extend this to more demanding applications, where an understanding of the properties of the degrading polymer becomes crucial. Two particular characteristics of the polymer impact on the material performance as it degrades – the degree of crystallinity (i.e. how much of the polymer is crystalline and how much is amorphous), and the molecular weight (the length of the polymer chains, which reduces during degradation). Both of these properties affect the rate at which the polymer degrades and its mechanical properties: an understanding of the variation of these properties with time is needed in predicting the lifetime performance of such an implant. However, these characteristics are not independent – shorter polymer chains will crystallise more easily and crystallised polymer will not break down as fast as amorphous polymer. The aim of this project is to devise a careful series of experiments designed to explore the coupling of these two characteristics, in order to assist the design of models to describe the evolution of the polymer structure and properties over time. This will require careful analytical thought, meticulous sample preparation, and training in the use of cutting-edge analysis equipment in the engineering and chemistry departments.

This project would ideally suit an MEng student in either Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, although other students can be considered. No special qualifications required though some understanding of polymeric materials and materials characterisation would be an advantage. Training in the use of analytical equipment will be provided. Supervisors: Dr Davide De Focatiis and Dr Andy Parsons.

Hyperbranched polymers: a study connecting their structure to properties and suitable applications


A dendrimer and a hyperbranched polymer

Dendritic, or hyperbranched polymers are unusual high molecular weight polymers in that they possess an extensive three-dimensional molecular structure, characterised by a large number of branching points and thus a very high density of end-groups and functional groups. In lay terms their shapes can be compared to a tree with many branches and sub-branches. These materials are manufactured via two key synthetic strategies (a) sequential growth of the molecule in layers to produce well-defined polymers called dendrimers and (b) the co-polymerisation of mono- and di-functional monomers to produce hyperbranched polymers. Hyperbranched polymers are less structurally well-defined, but considerably easier to manufacture in a single process stage. Dendritic polymers have unique properties because their many branches impart a globular shape and lead to exceptionally high end-functional group density. The unique three-dimensional structure of these materials has inspired a high degree of interest in the material science and engineering communities. These materials have been linked with numerous potential advances in applications reported, ranging from improved polymer processing, through to improved drug delivery systems, to their use as nano-building blocks for more complex structures. Unfortunately, characterisation and application has thus far been limited due to the inherent difficulties with the synthesis. Dendrimers are only accessible through the tedious, solvent-intensive, multi-step synthetic pathways. Recent work within the University of Nottingham has lead to a practical system to produce hyperbranched polymers in significant quantities within a couple of hours. This research involves carrying out a careful series of experiments designed to characterise the structure and the processability and mechanical properties of samples of these novel hyperbranched polymers. The aims of the project are to obtain high-quality experimental data that can assist in the design of models to describe the properties of these materials. Since most of these materials are novel, the student will have to carefully design possible processing strategies in order to perform the characterisation. This will require meticulous sample preparation, training in the use of cutting-edge analysis equipment in the engineering and chemistry departments, and dedication and insight to overcome challenging experimental problems. By the end of the project the student should be in a position to propose possible applications for the hyperbranced polymers produced using the Nottingham reactor. The student will be supervised by Dr Derek Irvine, Associate Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and member of the Process and Environmental Research Division, and Dr Davide De Focatiis, Lecturer in Polymer Engineering and member of the Materials, Mechanics and Structures Research Division.

Summer studentship 2009

Investigating the effects of stress on creep failure of a biodegradable PLA polymer for medical applications (now appointed)


SEM of a degrading composite

PLA (polylactic acid) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, an ideal candidate for the matrix material of a fully biodegradable phosphate glass fibre composite being developed in Nottingham with applications as synthetic bone substitutes and fracture fixation devices. The degradation and failure of the PLA matrix plays a key part in determining the degradation and failure of the composite. This project will investigate experimentally how the presence of stress enhances the speed of mechanical failure in the PLA matrix through a series of 3-point bending creep and tensile experiments on dry and wet PLA, at room and body temperatures. Specimens will be compression moulded directly to shape, and tested using an existing 3-point bending creep rig, and tensile testing equipment. The failure surfaces will be investigated further using microscopy in order to shed light on the mode of failure in the material. A commercial PLA grade will be used for the bulk of the experiments, followed if time permits by a limited number of miniature tests on a more precious medical grade PLA. If time permits, a limited number of tests on the composites will also be performed.

This project would ideally suit an MEng student in Mechanical Engineering, although other students can be considered. It is funded by the Mechanics, Materials and Structures and the Process and Environmental research divisions, at a rate of £180/week and will last for 8 weeks. Key deliverables are specimen production, mechanical tests and a brief report. Training will be provided where needed.

Summer studentship 2009

Investigating the changes in resistance with large deformation in a range of carbon nanotube – thermoplastic elastomer composites for wearable deformation sensors (now appointed)


A carbon nanotube

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) provide a novel way to decrease the electrical resistance of polymers through the production of nanocomposites. When CNTs are mixed with elastomeric materials, large deformations of the composites are still possible. The resistance of the elastomeric composites changes with deformation both due to the shape change and due to the microstructural changes in the composite. It is intended to use these materials as large strain sensors with applications in areas such as medical rehabilitation, gait analysis, sports monitoring and motion capture. The project will investigate experimentally the changes in resistance with deformation in a small range of CNT-thermoplastic elastomer composites. Controlled deformations will be applied using standard tensile testing machines while monitoring the changes in resistance. Some manufacture of the test specimens by compression moulding and some development of the testing equipment and technique will be necessary. The aim is to help to produce a proof-of-concept sensor, and to shed light on what materials are suitable candidates for these sensors. This project forms part of a multidisciplinary collaboration through a Bridging the Gaps scheme.

The project would ideally suit an MEng student in either Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering, although other students can be considered. It is funded by a Bridging the Gaps award, at a rate of £220/week and will last for 10 weeks. Key deliverables are specimen production, development of the test method, combined electro-mechanical tests and a brief report. Training will be provided where needed.

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