Dr. Chamini Mendis is a Reader in Metallurgy at BCAST in Brunel University of London Her research interest includes development of advanced magnesium alloys for structural applications using low cost alloying additions for both cast and wrought applications, microstructure property relationships of light alloys, solid-state phase transformations in light metallic alloys with focus on Al and Mg alloys and solidification and thermomechanical processing .Understanding the structure proeprty relationships that develop in Aluminium alloys subjected to thermomechanical processing including precipitate evolution and texture development in industrially relevant alloys Broadly speaking research interests spans the phase transformations on the microstructures and mechanical and physical properties of the metallic materials processed via casting, forming or through other conventional and non conventional processing paths She received her Ph.D. (2005), M.Eng.Sci. (2000) and BE/LLB (1995/1997)) in Materials Engineering from the Monash University, Australia. Following the doctoral studies, prior to moving to MagIC, she spent 6 years at the National Institute for Materials Science (Tsukuba, Japan) working with Prof. Kazuhiro Hono, first as a JSPS postdoctoral fellow and then as a MANA researcher, the design and characterization of light metallic materials especially newly developed precipitation hardable magnesium alloys, with a special focus on the characterization of nano-scaled particles using advanced transmission electron microscopy and 3 dimensional atom probe tomography. She has published over 100 research publications including research papers in scientific journals, conference proceedings and a book chapter. She is a member of the magnesium committee The Materials Metals and Mineral Society (TMS) was a guest editor of the institute journal JOM.
We are recruiting new Doctoral Researchers to our EPSRC funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) PhD studentships starting 1 October 2023. Applications are invited for the project Development of impurity tolerant Mg Die casting alloys
Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of approximately £19,668, 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 Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST)
The Project
The project aims to develop a set of easily recyclable Mg alloys based on low cost additions. If successful project will develop a group of high strength Mg casting alloys with similar yield strengths as Al-Si-Mg alloys such as 356 alloy with a yield strength of 150MPa in the as cast state and 225MPa with T5 heat treatment. The alloys developed are expected to be tolerant to impurity elements fully recyclable.
Please contact Dr Chamini Mendis at Chamini.mendis@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, 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 their ability to understand the fundamental principles of physical metallurgy together with a good skill set in problem-solving, as well as a strong motivation to learn new topics. Experience in metal processing and characterisation is an advantage.
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
There are two stages of the application:
- Applicants must submit the pre-application form via the following link https://brunel.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/epsrc-dtp-23-24-pre-application-form-brunel-university-lon-3 by 16.00 on Friday 26th May 2023.
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 24hrs.
- 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 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 June 2023.