Advancing Aluminium Extrusion for Side Sill Structures: Integration, Digitalisation, and Sustainable Innovations

Applications are invited for one full-time EPSRC Industrial CASE (ICASE) PhD studentship for the project “Advancing Aluminium Extrusion for Side Sill Structures: Integration, Digitalisation, and Sustainable Innovations”, at Brunel University London, starting from 1^st October 2024. BCAST is a speciality research centre in metallurgy with a focus on processing of metallic materials for lightweighting applications. See www.brunel.ac.uk/bcast for more information. The project is sponsored by Constellium, a global leading manufacturer of high-quality technically advanced aluminium products and systems.

Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) starting from approximately £23,000 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of up to 48 months (4 years)

 This research project will be in the area of production and manufacturing engineering, with a focus on digitalisation of aluminium extrusion. The aim is to bridge the gap in digitalisation of the extrusion process of 6xxx series aluminium alloys for targeted automotive applications. This will be pursued by developing and implementing integrated process modelling techniques and digital process control, while considering energy efficiency and economic analysis of digitalisation. The project will be part of the activities of the Constellium University Technology Centre (UTC) at Brunel and will be aligned with the objectives of the Materials Made Smarter Research Centre (MMSRC) in delivering multidisciplinary research in the area of Digital Manufacturing.

 You will have the opportunity to interact with and receive advice from Constellium’s industrial research engineers in addition to the MMSRC’s leading researchers in physics-based and data-driven modelling.

 Please contact Prof. Hamid Assadi at hamid.assadi@brunel.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the project.

 Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this studentship, applicants should be “UK Residents” as defined by the EPSRC. Please check your suitability here

To be treated as a home student, candidates must meet one of these criteria:

• Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements)
• Have settled status
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements)
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a similar discipline. A postgraduate master’s degree is not required but may be an advantage.

 Applicants will be required to demonstrate their abilities in numerical modelling or in the application of simulation software to scientific / engineering problems. In addition, applicants should be highly motivated, able to work independently as well as in a team, collaborate with others and have effective communication skills.

 How to Apply

Please submit your application documents (see list below) in one PDF file by noon on 3 May 2024

to cedps-pgr-office@brunel.ac.uk. Interviews will take place in May 2024.

·        Your up-to-date CV;

·        Your personal statement (300 to 500 words) summarising your background, skills and experience;

·        Your Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);

·        Evidence of your English language skills to IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent, 6.0 in all sections), if appropriate;

·        Contact details for two referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College.

Remember to state the title of the project in the subject of your email.