PhD Studentship
Durability of agri-waste pellets in storage and handling
Applications are invited for a three-year full-time PhD Research Studentship available from 1st December 2007, on the ‘Durability of agri-waste pellets in storage and handling’.

Successful applicants will normally be expected to hold either a 2:1 or First Class Honours degree, or a Masters degree in a suitable subject, and to register for a PhD.

The studentship includes tuition fees, project travel and consumable costs plus a maintenance allowance of £12,000 in Year 1 rising to £12,500 in Year 2 and then £13,000 in Year 3 dependent on satisfactory progress.

The research students will be expected to acquire generic research skills (eg communication, data analysis) by registering for the Harper Adams Postgraduate Certificate in Research Skills (tuition fee included in the studentship).

For informal enquiries applicants may contact Dr Andrea Humphries, (ahumphries@harper-adams.ac.uk), telephone +44 (0)1952-815327.

Applications should include Curriculum Vitae and the names and contact details of two referees. These should be sent together with a covering letter to Mrs V Slann, Postgraduate Research Administrator (vslann@harper-adams.ac.uk).

PhD Studentship
Medical Manufacturing
Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Ref: PMD100907

A full-time EPSRC/IMCRC-funded PhD studentship is available within an ongoing collaborative project between the Rapid Manufacturing Research Group and the Healthcare Engineering Research Group in the Wolfson School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, UK.

The Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering is one of the largest and most successful engineering departments in the UK and boasts an established reputation for excellence in teaching and research, as well as strong links with industry.

The work performed by the Rapid Manufacturing Research Group is based around a family of technologies collectively known as Rapid Prototyping. Rapid Prototyping processes work by adding layers of material and either bonding or fusing them together by various means. These techniques are used to create 3D geometries directly from 3D CAD models with no need for tooling. A great emphasis of the group is placed on researching the use of these manufacturing technologies to directly produce end-use products. A great advantage of the processes are that they allow much greater freedom in product design and less reliance on high production numbers required for economic production.

The work performed by the Healthcare Engineering Research Group is based around the design, manufacture and exploitation of medical devices. Their work includes drug delivery systems and emerging medical device technologies such as tissue engineering. Healthcare Engineering emphasises the positioning of the group in the value chain that enables healthcare provision and the requirement for regulatory compliance. Their work is both wealth creation and manufacturing industry led and clinically led. The group works with national and regional agencies, industrial partners and clinical partners in both hospitals and primary care. The group also has its own growing life science and bio-technology capability.

This studentship will scope a novel layer manufacturing production method for the construction of three dimensional structures in tissue engineering for wound healing, joint repair and creating the features of organs. This work is expected to speculative with associated long term engineering goals. The research will undertake fundamental investigations conducted by multidisciplinary collaborative efforts in technological areas encompassing their manufacture and analysis. The project has the support of clinical, and industrial collaborators.

The research will be conducted with the PhD student working within the research team over a period of 3 years.

The studentship is available immediately, and covers tuition fees and provides a tax-free stipend for the three-year duration of the project starting at £12,600 pa. and increasing with an annual increment. Although open to all UK/EU and international students, this studentship provides tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only. Entry requirements include a good Bachelors degree (minimum upper second class, 2:1 or 1st) in Engineering, Applied Science or a related subject. Informal enquiries to the project supervisor, Professor Phill Dickens, are welcomed at P.Dickens@lboro.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt University
PhD Research Studentships
Mechanical Engineering
The department, situated in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, offers a stimulating and supportive environment for motivated individuals looking to work towards PhD, MPhil or EngD qualifications at the highest level. Each year, we attract new, external research contracts worth around £3M from industry, the research councils and the EU. We host the Scottish Manufacturing Institute with funding of more than £7M over 5 years from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. We have strong links with industry and many of the projects have particular industrial relevance. We operate in some of the finest purpose-built modern engineering premises, in one of the most vibrant and attractive cities in the UK.


Our research spans the spectrum of traditional mechanical engineering to areas that cross the interface between mechanical engineering and other disciplines (such as materials, medicine and physics). Our research is divided into the following broad themes:

design, manufacture and robotics
energy technology, heat transfer and fluid mechanics
microsystems and packaging
optical engineering
renewable energy
surfaces, microengineering and diagnostics.
Please go to the Vacancies link at http://www.mec.hw.ac.uk/postgrad/projects.htm for a description of individual projects in each area. These challenging projects will develop your experimental, theoretical and creative skills, and take you to the forefront of your chosen field.

To apply, please submit an online application form at http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/apply/
specifying Mechanical Engineering as the "Field/Subject of Study". When you have submitted the on-line application form, please e-mail your CV (curriculum vitae) to pgr-mech-eng@eps.hw.ac.uk

PhD Studentship
Management of Corporate Marketing and Multiple Identities
Brunel Business School
Brunel Business School continues to expand its research and teaching provision and to grow its undergraduate and postgraduate student numbers. It has also seen an unprecedented growth in PhD student applications, with the Business School being committed to the University's strategy of being Research-Intensive. Brunel Business School under the Headship of Professor Zahir Irani continues to be an innovative and forward thinking business school while undergoing a period of rapid change. The School has high ambitions for growth across all areas (UG, PGT, MBA and PhD), building upon its popular portfolio of courses with new programmes featuring as part of the School's strategy. As part of these plans, we are looking to attract enthusiastic and established academics with excellent research profiles that are prepared to advance the reputation of the School through their publications in leading academic journals. We are currently recruiting established academics in the following areas, and wish to hear from those keen to make a contribution to the further growth of Brunel Business School.

As part of our strategic investment we are offering a number of PhD studentships which present a wealth of opportunity for committed, intelligent and enthusiastic individuals.
Research Group: CREAM
Investigation: Management of Corporate Marketing and Multiple Identities
Leader: Professor John Balmer (john.balmer@brunel.ac.uk)

Candidates should send a curriculum vitae, together with names and addresses of two referees (at least one academic) and a short statement (max of two sides) setting out your interest in the research area to: Professor Ray Hackney ray.hackney@brunel.ac.uk.

Up to Twentysix (26) 4-Year D.Phil Studentships in each academic year/term
EPSRC/BBSRC Life Sciences Interface and Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centres
Stipend £12,600 per annum (under review)
Applications are invited in each academic year term for around up to 13 studentships within both the Life Sciences Interface (LSI), and the Systems Biology (Sysbio) Doctoral Training Centres. The modern biomedical sciences present many exciting and stimulating challenges for researchers from life, physical and mathematical sciences backgrounds, and there is a substantial and growing demand in the public and private sector for doctoral graduates in these areas. The DTC programmes are a new initiative to provide research training at the interface between the physical and life sciences.

The 4-year training programmes consist of up three terms of taught courses plus extended projects and laboratory rotations that will provide students with the necessary biological, experimental, and theoretical background before they choose to specialise by undertaking a substantive research project.

LIFE SCIENCES INTERFACE students will undertake their research in one of four internationally renowned research programmes in Oxford, covering medical imaging, biological physics, bioinformatics, and mathematical biology.

SYSTEMS BIOLOGY students will complete their research projects within this exciting new research centre focussing on a wide spectrum of theoretical and experimental research problems in the dynamic new field of Systems Biology.

A key feature of the programme is that students only have to choose their research topic after the first year, having acquired the additional key skills to successfully undertake interdisciplinary scientific research.

Full details of the Programmes and how to apply can be found at: http:www.dtc.ox.ac.uk

Home/ EU student funding
Full scholarships are available to Home students, and fees only scholarships are available to EU students. International students are eligible for University scholarship.

International student funding
Both DTC programmes have up to 3 Clarendon Fund scholarships to award annually to the best international candidates. To apply for these please select the Clarendon Fund scholarships on the application form. In addition international candidates should also refer to the following website for details:
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgradua...ance/int.shtml

Applicants should hold a good first degree in either a life or physical sciences subject, depending on the programme of study.

Further information on the Open Day and both programmes can be obtained by email –
dtcenquries@dtc.ox.ac.uk

Bangor University
PhD studentship
The impact of fishing on benthic biodiversity
Bangor University is seeking a candidate of outstanding ability to join their exciting programme of internationally rated research on the ecosystem effects of fishing. A three-year research studentship is available from 1 January 2008 on a collaborative Bangor University - CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) project that will deliver the science for implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.

Central to an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is reconciling the short-term need for catches with the long-term need for sustainability of target species and other ecosystem components such as benthic invertebrates and habitats. The proposed project will focus on the development of methods for assessing the impact of bottom fishing on benthic ecosystem functioning and habitats. The postgraduate student will be responsible for modelling the effects of fishing pressure owing to different bottom trawling gears on the biodiversity of benthic habitats and habitat architecture. Extensive field validation of model predictions will be conducted on annual cruises in the English Channel on the Bangor and CEFAS research vessels. The model will be used to set benthic biodiversity reference points for use in the EAF.

A first or upper second honours degree, masters qualification or equivalent in ecology or marine biology are ideal academic qualifications for this studentship, but candidates coming from other disciplines who have a highly numerate background are strongly encouraged to apply. An interest in ecological modelling is required, as is experience with R, Matlab or a similar computing package. Experience in sea-going research, sampling and identification of benthic invertebrates and GIS would be advantageous, but we would also train a candidate who excelled in other areas. The student should have excellent communication skills. Applicants will need a demonstrable track record of mathematical capabilities.

The studentship is available for a period of three years, and includes payment of tuition fees (at EU rates) and a postgraduate stipend of ca. £12,600.

Queries about the project can be addressed to Dr Jan G. Hiddink (J.Hiddink@bangor.ac.uk) or Prof Michel J. Kaiser (Michel.Kaiser@bangor.ac.uk). For more information on the School of Ocean Sciences and our research, please visit these website http://www.sos.bangor.ac.uk and http://www.bangor.ac.uk/CREAM. Other enquires and completed applications, including a CV, and a cover letter stating your research interest to:

Postgraduate Admissions Office, Academic Registry,
Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK.
Telephone: 01248 383762, Fax: 01248 370451, email: postgraduate@bangor.ac.uk

Research Studentships
Science and Technology Research Institute
The STRI produced the largest FTE staff Computer Science submission to be graded at 4 and obtained a grade 3a in General Engineering in the 2001 Universities Research Assessment Exercise.

Applications are invited in each academic year/term from candidates with good first degrees in computer science, computing, information technology, electronic engineering or similar to join projects as research students for a three year period in the following areas

Automatic Differentiation
Biocomputation
High Performance Processor Design
Neural Computation.
Quantum Information Science
Security and Integrity in Distributed Systems
Successful candidates may be eligible for a research studentship award from the University (equivalent to £12600 per annum bursary plus the payment of the standard UK student fees).

For further information and an application form, contact Mrs Lorraine Nicholls, Research Student Administrator, STRI, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB. Tel: 01707 286083 Fax: 01707 284185 or email: stri.admissions@herts.ac.uk.

PhD Studentship awarded each academic year in:-
Computational Hypersonic Aerodynamics
School of Engineering - Civil and Mechanical Division
£13k stipend per annum & all fees paid

Fixed Term Contract: 3 years

Duties/Responsibilities: To perform research in computational hypersonic aerodynamics.

This is a challenging but rewarding project, so the applicant will need to have (or be about to obtain) a 1st or 2:1 degree in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related subjects with a strong mathematical content (equivalent overseas qualifications are welcome). The project is theoretical and numerical, so experience of Computational Fluid Dynamics software and/or C++ programming would be an advantage, though not essential.

To apply: please email a full Curriculum Vitae (or Resume) with the names and contact details of two referees to: duncan.lockerby@warwick.ac.uk .

The University of Manchester
BBSRC Industrial Partnership PhD Studentship
Drug Delivery and Pharmacokinetics
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Physiologically-based approach to the prediction of hepatic uptake transporter (oatp1b1) drug-drug interactions.

Dr Aleksandra Galetin

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is inviting applications for a distinguished three-year BBSRC Industrial Partnership PhD studentship.

This project is a joint collaboration between the internationally distinguished Drug Delivery and Pharmacokinetics Research Group at Manchester and Pfizer Global R&D. The research study will focus on the development of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models for the prediction of hepatic uptake transporter (OATP1B1) drug-drug interactions. Additional in vitro transporter uptake and inhibition studies will be performed where required in particular transporter expression cell lines.

Candidates should hold a first or upper-second degree in pharmacology, biochemistry, pharmacy or related biomedical area. A strong mathematical background is also essential. Applicants must also meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the BBSRC guidelines (link below).

http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/training/eligibility.pdf

Although the project is scheduled for an September 2008 start, there would be the flexibility to commence earlier in the year subject to the requirements of the selected candidate.

It is expected that following successful completion of this PhD the candidate would progress into further academia or R&D in industries including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Interested candidates should submit a CV and detailed covering letter outlining their suitability for the study to Dr Aleksandra Galetin: aleksandra.galetin@manchester.ac.uk

Dr. Aleksandra Galetin
Pfizer Lecturer of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Stopford Building
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PT

University of Glasgow
PhD Position
Multi-scale modelling of fibre reinforced composites
JRI Mechanics of Materials & Structures and Bioengineering
This project aims to investigate the complex fibre-matrix interaction of fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites and in particular to develop a computational modelling approach for the macroscopic behaviour of these composites based on a detailed understanding and modelling of the microscale. This PhD project is a joint project between University of Glasgow and Strathclyde University with the main supervision carried out by the University of Glasgow. The uniqueness of this project lies in the synergetic relationship between computational modelling and material testing. In a related PhD project at Strathclyde University, experiments will be designed in response to specific requirements of the computational models that are developed.

Project summary
The project will initially concentrate on the modelling of the behaviour of a single fibre in the matrix. Factors such as fibre slenderness, interface properties, debonding, fibre breakage, etc. will be investigated and appropiate models developed. Various modelling environments will be assessed, e.g. discrete element method, lattice models or continuum finite element method.

Furthermore, the models will be validated by experimental data obtained by our partners at Strathclyde University. It is envisaged that the project will progress to consider multiple fibres modelling the effect of fibre dispersion and fibre interaction. Stochastic mechanics will be considered, whereby the microstructural properties are represented by spatially varying random fields. Ultimately, these microscale developments will be integrated into a suitable multi-scale modelling environment, thus producing a predictive model that is based on the underlying micromechanics.

Research environment
This project will be supervised jointly by Chris Pearce and Peter Grassl from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Glasgow and Jim Thomason from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The PhD student will have the opportunity to work on cutting edge research in a dynamic research environment and will receive expert training and gain in-depth knowledge in the area of computational fracture mechanics and multiscale modelling. In this project the research environment is further enriched by a continuous exchange with the experimental research group at the University of Strathclyde.

Conditions
The exceptional and highly motivated applicant should have a good MEng, MSc or equivalent in Civil, Mechanical or Aeronautical Engineering. The scholarship for this PhD is 12600 British pounds per year (tax free) for three and a half years. University fees (for an Uk or European student) are covered. The Phd position comprises only research.

For further information please contact Chris Pearce (pearce@civil.gla.ac.uk) or Peter Grassl (grassl@civil.gla.ac.uk).