Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cell Applications
 

PhD Studentship
Production and Characterization of Precious and Non-Precious Nanosize Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cell Applications
Department of Chemical Engineering
Dr Paula M. Mendes and Dr Bruno G. Pollet

The University of Birmingham, Department of Chemical Engineering,
School of Engineering. Birmingham B15 2TT (U.K.)

Many analysts believe that Fuel Cell systems will be dominating the energy structure of Britain by 2050 as a result of the high efficiencies, zero emissions and easy conversions which can be attained with this novel technology. Manufacturing industry outside the chemicals sector also recognizes early markets for the fuel cell economy. Large Plcs are running major projects on components and devices for the hydrogen and fuel cell economy, while many SMEs are making the components and parts which are required in the engineering systems such as fuel cell Combined Heat Power (CHP) generators, fuel cell catalysts, hydrogen stores and gas turbine hybrids which are at the forefront of this technology.

The main objective of the PhD is to develop innovative low cost and high performance electrocatalysts for Fuel Cell applications (PEMFC, SOFC & DMFC). The project has the following integrated parts:

Production of precious and non-precious nano-size electrocatalysts by using various available methods
Complete characterization of the produced electrocatalysts
‘Real' fuel cell testing using newly developed electrocatalysts for performance and durability
Pilot plant development, scale-up and commissioning for the production of selected nano-electrocatalysts
The University of Birmingham and the West Midlands have been designated as a Science City by the UK government and have recently been awarded a multi-million pound grant to develop research into Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Energy. The work will form part of the Birmingham Science City Initiative.

If you are interested and have a 2i Honours degree or better in a relevant topic please contact Dr Paula Mendes on [email]p.m.mendes@bham.ac.uk[/email] or Dr Bruno Pollet on [email]b.g.pollet@bham.ac.uk[/email]

Postgraduate Research Degree (EngD) -mobile and pervasive data-
 

Postgraduate Research Degree (EngD)
Integrating, representing and interacting with large-scale mobile and pervasive data
University of Bath and Sungard Vivista
The University of Bath and Sungard Vivista are recruiting a Research Engineer (RE) via the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme to investigate the effective management and use of data by front line public safety operatives such as police, fire and ambulance. The University of Bath is an internationally leading research-driven institution while SunGard Vivista is an internationally leading ICT and business support company providing systems and services to the UK public safety, criminal justice and government sectors. The EngD is an innovative alternative to the traditional PhD, better suited to the needs of industry and providing a more vocationally oriented doctorate. The EngD programme is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with the aim of developing the UK's best research engineers for future leading roles in industry.

A key issue is the data blizzard faced by Sungard Vivista's customers (police, fire, ambulance etc), requiring innovative solutions. The research programme will focus on 3 areas: (i) How to integrate large volumes of data potentially in real time (e.g. voice, structured data, unstructured data, web, email etc); (ii) How to represent and interact with the data for large-scale event planning such as security at the Olympics (e.g. immersive environments, tangible interfaces, novel mobile and pervasive interaction techniques); (iii) How to mobilize the data, given widespread broadband wireless access (e.g. providing data on demand to personnel in the field, streaming body worn camera video back to control rooms etc). The RE will investigate novel methods, tools and techniques to enable highly usable and effective data management and interaction within these areas.

Research Engineers
The successful candidate will have a very strong background in a relevant discipline together with the ability to apply this strength in a leading industrial research environment. The RE will be registered for the EngD degree at the University of Bath, co-supervised by a member of academic staff and an industrial supervisor at Sungard Vivista. REs work on a project or series of projects that demonstrate innovation and are of direct industrial relevance. Research outcomes are expected to be at least to the same level as a PhD. REs spend three quarters of their time working directly with Sungard Vivista. The fourth quarter is spent undertaking Master's level training in systems engineering skills and specialist technical subjects directly related to their research, as well as developing management capabilities. Details of the EngD programme are available at [url]www.cs.bath.ac.uk/pgr-admissions/engd[/url].

Entry Requirements
The EngD is open to highly motivated candidates who have a minimum of an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline. A lower undergraduate qualification is acceptable if supplemented with an appropriate postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA/MSc) and/or substantial industrial experience. Applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Fees and Stipends
Research Engineers are fully funded by the EPSRC for four years and will receive an enhanced tax-free stipend of £17920 (2007/08 rate), plus a training allowance to attend conferences and workshops. UK nationals and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for three years are eligible for full funding. EU nationals who have not been resident in the UK for three years are eligible for fees only. Non-EU overseas nationals are not eligible for EPSRC funding.

Applying
Informal enquiries may be made to Eamonn O'Neill at the University of Bath (eamonn@cs.bath.ac.uk). Information about studying for a postgraduate degree at Bath is available at [url]www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office[/url]. A postgraduate application form may be downloaded from [url]www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office/apply[/url]. Early applications are encouraged as the number of funded places is limited.

UCL Faculty Of Laws
 

Research Studentships
UCL Faculty Of Laws
UCL Faculty of Laws, one of the world's leading law schools, will be offering up to 4 prestigious Research Scholarships for graduate research students.

The Studentships are open to anyone who wishes to pursue study leading to a degree of MPhil/PhD one may be reserved for Home/EU students. Current students in the Faculty of Laws may apply if, at the time of application, they are not in receipt of any other studentship, scholarship, or other significant financial support.

The Scholarships will cover full tuition fees and a contribution towards maintenance of £8,000 per annum. Awards are made initially for one year, but will be renewed for a second year, subject to satisfactory completion of studies during the first year. They will be renewed for a third year, provided the student has been upgraded to full PhD status.

Before applying for any of the scholarships you must either have applied to, or been accepted on, the UCL Faculty of Laws research student programme.

Scholarships may be held with a Teaching Assistantship or other salaried position in the Faculty.

The Faculty welcomes applications from students wishing to study for a PhD in any area of law or discipline related to law.

It would particularly encourage applications from students interested in research in the following subjects:

criminal law, criminal procedure, and criminology
European Union law (including EU corporate law and regulation of financial markets)
employment and equality law
competition law
public law
public international law
international economic law, including law of the WTO
law of obligations, in particular tort law
environmental law
legal theory (including its application to property and insolvency law)
But all applications will be considered on their merits regardless whether they relate to one of the areas listed above.

Application Procedure
Applications may be made by hard copy letter or by email they will be acknowledged by email within a week of receipt.

Applicants who are not currently registered at UCL as doctoral students should provide:

A completed Research Student Application form (including full curriculum vitae)
A short statement of the proposed research, either on the application form or attached to it
Names and addresses of two referees who have been asked by the applicant to send a reference in support of the application
Applicants who are currently registered at UCL as doctoral students should provide a reference from their principal supervisor and one other reference.

In normal circumstances awards will be made for the academic year starting on October 1, 2008. But applicants may indicate that they wish to start their studies on January 1, 2009 in that case a successful applicant would be funded the appropriate part of the full fee and of the contribution towards maintenance.

Applications for the Scholarships should be either emailed to: [email]j.dhanji@ucl.ac.uk[/email] or sent by post to:

The Graduate Office
UCL Faculty of Laws
Bentham House
Endsleigh Gardens
London WCIH 0EG.

Forensic Molecular Biology
 

Erasmus MC
PhD Studentship
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Department of Forensic Molecular Biology
A 4 year PhD student position in molecular biology and genetics is available in the Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The general area of research is in identifying and understanding human individual and population differences (geographic origin, visible / physical traits, evolutionary genetic adaptation) for fundamental biological interest but also for potential future application to forensics. We are using state-of-art D/RNA including genome-wide technologies to identify respective regions / markers including dedicated follow-up studies. A suitable applicant will hold a M.Sc. in molecular biology or molecular genetics. Exceptional B.Sc. students are also encouraged to apply.

Practical skills in RNA technologies, gene expression analysis, including qPCR, are strongly required. Experience in statistical data analysis would be an advantage. The Erasmus University Medical Center, especially its Medical-Genetic Cluster offers a highly international and stimulating research environment with English as working language ([url]www.erasmusmc.nl/medical_genetics)[/url]. The city of Rotterdam offers a multicultural and exciting living environment in close proximity to other highlights of Europe (e.g. Paris, London, Berlin, and Brussels).
Applicant should email a curriculum vita, statement of research interest two pages and three letters of reference to Prof. Manfred Kayser, [email]m.kayser@erasmusmc.nl[/email]

Physiology of canopy development
 

BICAL Industrial PhD Studentship
Physiology of canopy development in relation to yield and cane quality in Miscanthus
Research Centre in Applied Sciences
Applications are invited for a three year PhD studentship, sponsored by BICAL Ltd, to carry out applied research on canopy development in relation to yield and quality of the cane in Miscanthus, at the Research Centre in Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton. BICAL (Biomass Industrial Crops Ltd) is a leading British company working on energy and biomass crops, especially Miscanthus. The stem (cane) of Miscanthus is used as a fuel in electricity generation and also as a raw material in a range of industrial applications.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our international research community and study in a well-resourced research environment. You will be fully supported in your development as an independent researcher and receive specific training in research methods. The studentship will provide a starting bursary of £10,500 p.a., increasing by 5% each year, together with home/EU fees and research support funding. You should have a good honours degree (first or 2i) in a relevant subject area, recent experience of practical research project work and a demonstrable commitment and enthusiasm for applied research.

Full studentship details are available at [url]www.wlv.ac.uk/science;[/url] for information on BICAL Ltd see [url]www.bical.net[/url].

For an application form (Ref: 08/01/TJH), please email Marie Bagley at RCAS, School of Applied Sciences (m.j.bagley@wlv.ac.uk). For informal enquiries contact Prof Trevor Hocking (t.j.hocking@wlv.ac.uk) or Dr Paul Carver (paul.carver@bical.net).

QUILL Research Centre
 

PhD Studentship
QUILL Research Centre
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Applications are invited for a research studentship at the QUILL Research Centre based in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen's University Belfast.

This project offers an exciting opportunity to work in the world-leading centre for ionic liquids research. The 3 year doctoral studentship (funded by Cytec Speciality Chemicals, a North American based company) will provide a maintenance grant and cover all approved tuition fees.

The research work will be carried out in the QUILL Research Centre and will be on the syntheses and elaboration of structure/property relationships of phosphonium-based ionic liquids.

Eligibility & How to Apply:
We invite applications from potential UK, EU and International students who have a 2.1 or above Bachelors degree in Chemistry. An interest in synthetic chemistry is essential.

Applications should be made in the form of a CV (with a minimum of 2 references) and covering letter and sent to Dr. Sarah Thompson, QUILL Centre, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AG. Or submitted via e-mail to [email]sarah.thompson@qub.ac.uk[/email]

For further details on eligibility for funding and useful information for prospective research students please read the information at [url]http://www.qub.ac.uk/postgraduate[/url].

Effect of thermo-electro-mechanical coupling
 

PhD Studentship
Effect of thermo-electro-mechanical coupling on dynamic processes in inelastic layered structures
Centre for Micro- and Nanomechanics (CEMINACS)
School of Engineering
Dept Supervisor: Professor Igor Guz

Applications are invited for a 3 year EPSRC funded PhD studentship. The successful candidate will join the Centre for Micro- and Nanomechanics in the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K.

Project:
The forced-vibration analysis of structures and their members occupies a significant place in the dynamics of deformable systems. An accurate prediction of the dynamic and quasi-static response of structures and their members is a huge challenge, since the material of a structure may become plastic under intensive loading and/or exhibit viscous properties. Variable viscoelastoplastic behaviour should be studied when designing metal dampers for the vibrations of building structures under wind and seismic loads, devices for suppressing vibrations of pipelines, test specimens in low-cycle fatigue tests, etc.

The overall aim is to improve our understanding of the complex coupled processes in thin-wall inelastic structures that can contain both active and passive layers and can experience intensive cyclic or impact loading, with a long-term goal of development of general design guidelines to achieve the necessary productivity and reliability of structures.

The work is likely to involve a combination of analytical studies and computer modelling including Finite Element analysis and MatLab/Fortran programming.

Person specification:
You will have a first or upper second class degree in: applied mathematics, solid mechanics, engineering or materials science (or an equivalent qualification) and ideally be familiar with some or all of the following: non-elastic constitutive equations; vibration analysis; numerical modelling using MatLab, C++ or FORTRAN; Finite Element analysis using ABAQUS or ANSYS.

For more information see the web-site of the Centre for Micro- and Nanomechanics ([url]www.abdn.ac.uk/ceminacs[/url]) or contact Professor Igor Guz directly (i.guz@abdn.ac.uk).

If you are interesting in applying please send a detailed CV to:
Lisa Clydesdale, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, U.K.
Tel: 01224 272820; Fax: 01224 272497; E-mail: [email]eng800@abdn.ac.uk[/email].

Novel Bioactive Glass
 

EPSRC Industrial CASE PhD Studentship
Novel Bioactive Glass and its Composites for Orthopaedic and Dental Applications
Department of Oral and Dental Science
The Department of Oral & Dental Science, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, is inviting applications for an EPSRC Industrial CASE PhD studentship co-sponsored by Novathera Ltd commencing soon after. The studentship is open to UK applicants. EU applicants may be eligible for a full award if they have been in full-time education or in employment in the UK throughout the three years preceding the start date of the programme of research study. The studentship will attract an annual stipend of up to £17,000 in addition to tuition fees.

The University of Bristol is one of the research-intensive universities in the UK. The department was rated 5* in the lasted RAE. NovaThera is a Cambridge based company that specialises in pioneering applications of biomaterials and stem cell biology for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to provide innovative therapeutic solutions.

The PhD project involves the development of novel fabrication methodologies for bioactive glass and its composites in various structures/forms aimed for orthopaedic, dental and tissue engineering applications. The PhD student will investigate different powder processing routes for the fabrication and characterisation of bioactive glass and its composites based on natural biopolymers. The student will be based in the Biomaterials Engineering Group and will have close collaboration with groups within the department and the university on biological characterisation of the developed materials.

Applicants, who have a first class or 2:1 or equivalent honours degree, or M.Sc or M.Phil in materials, chemistry, biology and engineering subject, are encouraged to apply.

For further information or application, please contact Dr Bo Su (Tel: 0117 928 4361, Email: [email]b.su@bristol.ac.uk[/email]), or send/e-mail detailed CVs directly to Dr Bo Su, Department of Oral & Dental Science, Dental Hospital & School, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY.

PhD Position on robotic aided therapy and assessment of post-stroke patients
University of Twente Biomechanical Engineering group


The PhD position at the BME group will be mainly focused on the assessment of impairments of the upper extremities following stroke using previous developed robotic exoskeletons, and electrophysiological measures. At the end of the project (s)he will have developed and evaluated a battery of tests that gives a complete picture of sensory motor disorders due to stroke and relate different impairments to functional disabilities. This will give us a better insight into the consequences and progress of stroke and will make it possible to monitor the effect of different treatments on multiple levels. The PhD position at the BME will work closely with the PhD. students at RRD and the Sint Maartens kliniek . The PhD students will work with stroke patients and have to collaborate with (para)medici. The supervision of both the PhD positions at RRD and the BME will be a joint effort of both groups.

Requirements
------------------------------------------------
Required education/skills:University Graduate
You are a recently graduated (MSc) biomedical engineer or physics / mechanical/ electrical engineer with biomedical specialization or a human movement scientist with a strong mathematical background . You have demonstrated an interest in human motor control and rehabilitation technology. Expertise in neurophysiology and experience in experimentation are highly recommended. You have experience in mathematical modeling and sufficient skills in numerical mathematics, programming C and/or Matlab. Finally, you work accurately and independently, are creative, a team player and have excellent communication skills, particularly in written and spoken English.


Organization
-----------------------------
University of Twente
Biomechanical Engineering group

Sharing knowledge, working together, research, innovation. It is all part of the only campus university in the netherlands: the University of Twente (UT). A university with an international character. We have for example many foreign doctoral students, and master programmes are provided in english. Divided over 5 faculties, we provide more than 50 bachelor and master programmes, varying from applied physics and public administration to applied communication science and biomedical technology. In beautiful green surroundings, more than 8000 students and 2700 staff live, work and recreate at the UT. It is also a place where talented people get every opportunity to perform cutting edge research. But as an entrepreneurial university this is not all we do. In ‘Kennispark’, for example, we work together with the business community, we support our students in setting up their own businesses and participate in many projects in the area of knowledge development. In brief, a dynamic climate in which to work and study.

The faculty of Engineering Technology has about 270 employees and 1500 students and consists of four departments: Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Sustainable Energy Technology. The new group Multi Scale Mechanics is part of the Mechanical Engineering department, with research in the areas of multi-scale fluid- and solid-mechanics, micro-macro approaches, particle and contact mechanics, micro-fluidics, and self-healing materials.

Research of the UT is organized in 6 spearhead institutes, including the Institute for Biomedical Technology (BMTi). This interdepartmental institute hosts more than 250 researchers from the field of physics, electrical engineering, construction technology and (bio)-chemical technology. It is recognised world-wide as a leading institute in this multi-disciplinary field of science, where engineering concepts and methods are employed to solve and understand medical and biological problems. The main areas of interest are human function technology and tissue engineering.

The research program of The Biomechanical Engineering (BME) group is focussed on the human locomotor apparatus, from diagnosis training to the construction of supportive devices. The medical application areas are rehabilitation, orthopaedics and neurology.

In the BME group one PhD position and is available, which is part of the VIRTUROB project that is a ‘pieken in de delta’ proposal, which aims to exploit robotic devices and virtual reality in the assessment and training of neurological disorders. The project is a follow up project of the active rehabilitation project ([url]http://www.actieverevalidatie.nl/[/url]) and is a collaboration between the University of Twente, Roessingh Researrch and Development, the Sint Maartens Kliniek, Baat Medical Engineering, and ReLion.


Dr.ir. H. van der Kooij
Telephone number: 31 53 489 4779
E-mail address: [email]h.vanderkooij@utwente.nl[/email]
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:
About the organization ([url]http://www.ctw.utwente.nl/en/[/url])
About the department ([url]http://www.bw.ctw.utwente.nl[/url])
University of Twente
CTW-Personnel Department
Postbus 217
7500 AE Enschede

E-mail: [email]personeelszaken@ctw.utwente.nl[/email]

Suicide Risk in Early Psychosis
 

PhD Studentship
Suicide Risk in Early Psychosis
School of Psychology and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust
Applications are invited from suitably qualified psychology graduates to join the psychosis research team working on suicide risk and self harm in young people with psychosis. The PhD will be undertaken in collaboration with the Birmingham Early Intervention in Psychosis Service and will focus on ‘real time' monitoring of suicidal thinking within the framework of differential activation theory and evolutionary psychology

For further information please contact Professor Max Birchwood for further information. e-mail [email]M.J.BIRCHWOOD.20@bham.ac.uk[/email].

The studentships will be at the basic UK research council rate (expected £12,600 p.a. in 2008/9) to provide support over the three-year period and will cover tuition fees.

For more information and informal discussion about the studentships contact Prof. Max Birchwood: [email]m.j.birchwood@bham.ac.uk[/email]. To obtain an application pack contact Mrs Parveen Chahal, email: [email]P.K.Chahal@bham.ac.uk[/email] or +44 (0) 121 414 4906.