Contactless Technology for Conveying Light and Fragile Objects

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship funded by Peter Jost Foundation for the project “Contactless Technology for Conveying Light and Fragile Objects” starting in October 2023. Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £20,662 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of forty-eight (42) months (i.e.: 3.5 Years). Applicants must be eligible for home tuition fees either as a UK or EU national or through another connection to the UK, e.g.: residency.

The successful applicant will join the Mechanical and Aerospace Department, Brunel University London, working with internationally recognised researchers in a vibrant academic environment.

The proposed research aims to support the realisation of a new non-contact smart conveying technology using squeeze-film phenomenon to levitate and move objects. Solutions based on the idea of a flexible structure containing elastic hinges which could generate the squeeze-film mechanism, will be studied in this project.

The goal of the project is to make this approach suitable to larger industrial applications for the development of smart, high precision contactless manipulation/positioning systems.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate their understanding, skills and experience in key mechanical engineering principles, design, computational modelling, and testing methods.

Please contact Dr Cristinel Mares at cristinel.mares@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, Physics, or a similar discipline. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage.

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 email your application documents (see list below) in a single PDF file by 17:00 on 30 June 2023 to Dr Cristinel Mares and the PGR Office at cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk Interviews will take place at the beginning of July 2023.

• Your up-to-date CV;
• Your personal statement (300 to 500 words) summarising your background, skills and experience;
• Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Masters 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.