Cardiff School of Engineering – PhD Studentship
Reference
DB-EPSRC-13
Supervisors
Prof David Barrow, Prof Adrian Porch
Programme of Study
PhD in Engineering
Project title
Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric Capsules for Fusion Energy
Start date
1st April 2013
Duration
3 years
Source of funding
Cardiff School of Engineering EPSRC/AWE Ltd
This is a rare and timely PhD research opportunity to investigate an application of
microfluidics, and which, potentially, has extremely profound and strategic
importance to mankind for the sustainable production of relatively clean energy.
This project requires an intellectual and inquisitive mind to study microfluidic
reactor methodologies for the fabrication of highly spherical capsules to contain
frozen hydrogen (isotopes) in future fusion energy production facilities. You may
undertake the modeling of microfluidic chemical reactors using COMSOL,
fabrication of microfluidic structures using DRIE, laser micromachining or
micromilling and integration with other equipment. The work will involve polymer
composites for capsule fabrication using photochemistry, x-ray micro- / nanotomography, and possibly using cryogenic techniques.
Project summary
Number of awards
Amount of funding
Eligibility
Academic criteria
Specific research training benefits: The PhD student will benefit from facilities for
laser microfabrication, microfluidic design and modeling, courses in LabVIEW
virtual instrument design, COMSOL multiphysics modeling, and other various short
courses. Critically, this research involves both very practical experimental aspects
together with theoretical considerations. The successful PhD candidate will
acquire transferable skills in microengineering, optics, microfluidics, laboratory
practice, prototype engineering, scientific evaluation, critical analysis, and
develop their inter-personal communication skills through group and conference
presentations and well as regular collaborative project meetings. The PhD student
will work in a laboratory environment with others working on a related project,
but also, on microfluidic stem cell microencapsulation, microanalytical
instrumentation, transdermal microneedle manufacture and microfluidic particle
classifications systems.
1
The award will cover fees at the Home/EU fee rate and will provide an annual
stipend (£13,590 in 2012/13).
The full award is open to Home students, or EU candidates who have been
resident in the UK for three years at the course start date. Other EU applicants
may be eligible for a fees-only award
We are seeking an enthusiastic scientist with appropriate knowledge/ experience/
ideas and a good first degree in a relevant field such as physics, engineering,
process engineering, chemistry or biology. Most preferably, a polymer scientist
could suite, but this is not an absolute pre-requisite. Most importantly we seek an
enthusiastic, very hard working, free-thinker with both excellent practical
laboratory skills/capabilities and the ability to use, or learn to use, modeling
tools. Someone with a masters in microfluidics could also be suitable.
Applicants should hold or expect to gain an undergraduate degree in a relevant
discipline (2.1 or 1st class honors) and/or an appropriate Masters level
qualification.
Contact for further
information
Professor David Barrow, Barrow@Cardiff.ac.uk
Applications can be made online at www.cardiff.ac.uk.
How to apply
PLEASE ENSURE YOU QUOTE THE STUDENTSHIP REFERENCE ABOVE ON YOUR
APPLICATION. (For online applications, please put reference in the “Prospective
Supervisor” section).
Deadline for applications
Applications shold be submitted as soon as possible for an April 1 st start date.