Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Particulate Materials

Overview

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Particulate Materials brings together the research expertise from our internationally leading Institute for Materials Research (IMR) and the Institute for Particle Science & Engineering (IPSE).

High value added manufacturing is recognised by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and other funding agencies as being a priority area and through the existing activity within IMR and IPSE we are well-placed to exploit this. Our Centre for doctoral training centre will build on our strengths and grow the capabilities of IPSE and IMR in underpinning research competitiveness.

Institute for Materials Research (IMR)
IMR embraces all approaches to materials science and engineering, from fundamental studies and modelling through to device fabrication, underpinned by the classical process-structure-properties paradigm. The research activities cover three main established areas:

• Functional Materials (carbon, ferroelectrics, photonics and sensors)
• Metallurgy (powder metals, non-equilibrium processing)
• Characterisation and modelling (electron microscopy, EELS, thermodynamic modelling).

Institute of Particle Science & Engineering (IPSE)
IPSE has an international reputation for academic excellence, a large team of world-renowned staff and significant industrial and government support. Research activities are wide-ranging and cover a large number of topics in chemical engineering, colloids and interfacial engineering, multi-scale and systems modelling, fine chemicals processing, minerals and waste processing, powder and formulation engineering, in-process measurement and control systems.  Activities are grouped in three categories - Manufacturing, Measurement and Modelling - with many being focused on special topics involving significant collaboration with other academic institutions and/or industrial organisations. Topics for the centre include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Processing and manufacturing of particulate materials (e.g. functional oxides, composite materials, encapsulation, powder based manufacturing, structured particulate materials, powder metals, dispersion and suspension)
• Modelling and simulation of particulate materials (e.g. across length scale modelling)
• Advanced measurements and characterisation techniques (e.g. low cost 3D imaging, interparticle forces at temperatures over 500oC).

Students will be enrolled on an integrated 4 year MSc/PhD degree programme where you will complete taught components during the first 2 years of the programme will include core advanced particulate materials skills modules plus some options that will be chosen for their relevance to your specific research project.

The above topics cover a wide range of applications including energy and environment, healthcare, homecare, aerospace, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and paint and pigments to name but a few. Students will be jointly supervised by at least one member of research staff from each Institute.

4 fully funded PhD studentships available for September 2013 entry.

Programme

There will be a minimum of 4 fully funded PhD studentships available per year, commencing September 2013 entry.

You will enroll on an integrated 4 year MSc/PhD degree programme where during the first two years you will complete compulsory assessed module. The programme will be built around a large suite of specialist modules offered by the Centre from which appropriate selections will be made by the student based upon relevance to their specific research project and in discussion with the Director of either IMR or IPSE. A schematic diagram of the course structure is given below.

In parallel with, and drawing upon, the taught components of the programme students engage in individual supervised research activity, culminating by the end of year 2 in the submission of a written dissertation and development of a plan for the final research project.

In years 3 and 4, the focus is on completion of the research project and submission of the thesis with additional support being provided by non-assessed generic research skills training. Download programme structure.

Compulsory modules
You will study 180 credits of modules each year:

Year of study	Number of credits
Year 1
Process Chemistry & Chemical Technology	15
Processing and Properties of Inorganic Nanomaterials	15
Research Project (MSc)	60
Transferable Skills and Professional Development 1	15
Year 2
Advanced Reaction Engineering	15
Advanced Materials and Processes	15
Transferable Skills and Professional Development 2	15

Optional modules
You will also choose 45 credits of optional modules (modules are typically worth 15 credits) during the second year. These optional credits will be chosen in conjunction with your PhD supervisor to augment your education in a relevant topic area.

Examples of modules that may be selected include:

Multi-Scale Modelling
Advances in Chemical Engineering
Computational Transfer Processes
Materials Modelling
Materials Structures and Characterisation

Download the programme structure

Funding

There will be a minimum of four funded PhD studentships available per year, commencing September 2013 entry. We envisage that additional studentships will be available depending on the level of industrial support within the programme.

PhD studentships include fees and a maintenance grant of £16,000 (tax free) per annum for UK students. EU candidates will be eligible for a fees-only award.

Entry requirements

You are required to have attained a 1st class or upper 2nd class undergraduate degree, or an MSc degree, in an engineering or science related discipline.

How to apply

To apply please complete a formal application for Integrated PhD study (click on ‘Apply online’)

Instructions for filling out the form:

-Select ‘Research Postgraduate’ for type of form
-The course is ‘Integrated PhD with MSc in Advanced Particulate Materials FT’
-Start date is 1st October 2013
-To enter a research interest, please refer to the DTC website above.
-You may if you wish include a research proposal if you have a specific project you wish to follow, however this is not required at this stage. Successful applicants will be sent a list of potential PhD topics later.

For admissions enquiries please contact our Graduate School Office, phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Andy Mullis/ Prof.Yulong Ding

Four fully funded PhD studentships still available for September 2013.

Application deadline: 28 February 2013