The preservation of 3D printed objects in museum and heritage collections: Preserving the Future of the Past

Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is pleased to offer this three and a half years full-time stipend and tuition fees bursary for the above PhD opportunity to outstanding applicants seeking to begin a programme of research with AUB in February 2025.

The studentship is within the new Plastic Innovation and Curation Research Centre at the university, which is funded by the UKRI E3 Expanding Excellence grant. The Research Centre will explore how plastics degrade over time and behave in different environments, resulting in research that will have international impact to both the museum and heritage sector and value to materials selection and testing in modern design and manufacturing.

This research combines the expertise of AUB’s Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP) with the design, manufacturing and testing capabilities of the Creative Technologies Research Group based at AUB’s Innovation Studio working closing with both the heritage sector and manufacturing industries. The PlastIC laboratory is equipped for non-destructive analysis techniques to assess the performance of materials, as well as having weathering equipment to test and assess the stability of materials under different weathering conditions.

Background:

As 3D printing technology becomes more prevalent in the production of artifacts, museums and heritage institutions are increasingly faced with the challenge of preserving these objects. Understanding the historical context of 3D printed items, their materials, and appropriate care methods is crucial for maintaining their integrity and longevity within collections. This work will contribute to the PlastIC Research Centre and involve material composition assessment, testing, and developing collection care and curation protocols. You will be required to collaborate closely with the MoDiP team and the wider heritage sector.

While the successful candidate will have a degree of freedom in developing their research it is envisaged that applicants will have a background in the field of heritage and conservation science.

Supervision

Supervision will be led by Professor Christian McLening, Director of Research and Development

Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact: plastic@aub.ac.uk.

Funding Notes

Funding for: UK Students

Funding amount: Annual stipend, currently £19,237 and home fee tuition fees paid

Hours: Full or Part-time

*stipend may not payable for part time routes

Person Specification and Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates for a PhD studentship must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in three and a half years (full-time) or five years (part-time).
• Applicants should hold a first or 2:1 Honours degree and typically a Masters degree in an appropriate subject
• Applicants with alternative qualifications/experience will be considered if they can demonstrate relevant achievement. Applicants whose first language is not English will be expected to have an IELTS score of at least 7.0 with 7.0 minimum in writing.
• In addition to satisfying basic entry criteria, AUB will look closely at the research potential and academic qualities of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful and timely completion.

Applicants are also invited from students who wish to self-fund their studies for projects that align to the aims of the Centre.

Please refer to the bursary terms and conditions for further details. We particularly welcome applicants who self-identify as being from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME/Global Majority) background.

How to Apply

• All applicants should apply via the University’s online application portal: https://aub.ac.uk/graduate-courses/research-degrees
• As part of the application, you will be required to submit a 1500-word proposal that follows the guidelines available on the website; and two academic references. You should also upload a copy of your CV.
• You should clearly state in your proposal that you wish to be considered for this bursary.
• Closing date for applications Monday 18^th November. Interviews/open day will take place in early December.

Further information

Full information can be found at: https://aub.ac.uk/our-research/research-degrees

AUB’s Research Degrees are awarded in partnership with University of the Arts London.

Enquiries regarding our PhD programmes and the admissions process, please contact the AUB Research Office: researchoffice@aub.ac.uk