PhD Studentships

Departments of Aeronautics and Civil and

Environmental Engineering

Imperial College London is offering two PhD studentships as part of a Dstl/EPSRC

research programme on Improving Survivability of Structures to Impact and Blast
Loadings. The aim of the research programme is the development of a new generation of
hybrid composite materials using the latest high performance polymer fibres, potentially
in combination with metallic laminates, to improve overall performance when subject to
Impact and Blast Loadings.

These studentships will:

Project 1. Model and predict impact damage in hybrid laminates and perform relevant
laboratory test to characterise the materials for the impact regime.
Project 2: Model and predict blast loadings and damage in hybrid laminates and perform
relevant laboratory test to characterise the materials for the blast regime.

The projects will be a combination of experimentation and numerical modelling. The

experimental work will measure the performance of the composites and investigate the
damage mechanisms. The modelling will concentrate on failure prediction, using
Advanced Finite Element techniques.

You will work with an experienced and well-resourced research team within the
internationally-renowned Departments of Aeronautics and Civil and Environmental
Engineering. Applications are welcomed from candidates who have, or expect to gain, a
good upper-second or first-class honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering,
Mathematics or Physics.

The studentships are for three years starting on 1 September 2009 and will provide full
coverage of tuition fees (at the EU student rate) and an annual stipend of circa £14,940,
rising to £15,290 from 1 October 2009. The studentships are open to all candidates
regardless of nationality but non-EU applicants will need additional funding to pay the
difference between home and overseas fees. Interested applicants are invited to submit
CV (pdf preferred) and names of at least two referees to the contacts below. Successful
candidates will be asked to complete a formal application via the College online
application system http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus/howtoapply. For further
details please contact:

Project 1: Dr Lorenzo Iannucci, Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 5058, Email:

l.iannucci@imperial.ac.uk, or Dr Paul Robinson, Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 5073, Email
p.robinson@imperial.ac.uk.
 Project 2: Dr Luke Louca, Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6039, Email: l.a.louca@imperial.ac.uk

Imperial College is constantly ranked among the top world universities. The Departments
of Aeronautics and Civil and Environmental Engineering have been awarded the highest
rating in the last two UK Research Assessment Exercises.

Closing date for applications is 27 June 2009.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are also an Athena Silver SWAN Award
winner and a Stonewall Diversity Champion

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Date of input: Friday, 29th May 2009

Date of expiry: Saturday, 27th June 2009

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on jobs.ac.uk

URL of this page: www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/LV835/

Subject Areas:
Physical Sciences
• Physics
Mathematics
• Mathematics
Engineering & Technology
• Other Engineering
Type / Role:
• PhD Studentship
Salaries:
• £15,000 to £19,999
• up to £14,999
Location:
• London
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EPSRC DTA PhD

Studentship
Ultra-efficient Electric Power Drive Train for Electric Vehicles
School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer
Engineering

Reference Code: EE012

Closing Date: 31st July 2009

Supervisors: Dr Volker Pickert and Professor Barrie Mecrow

School: School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Sponsor: EPSRC
Duration: 3.5 years

Since the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997, worldwide Hybrid Electric Vehicle
(HEV) sales have grown rapidly year on year. By 2008 they represented 0.5% of the
total automobile market. In addition Ford and Honda have joined the hybrid revolution
and Daimler, GM, Hyundai and Nissan among others are expected to follow with the
introduction of their own hybrids in the very near-future.

HEV's promise to cut down CO2 emissions and therefore a significant contribution to the
reduction of greenhouse gases; one of the main environmental targets of the UK
government over the coming years and decades.

This project is defined as research in the field of the electric power drive train. The main
areas of focus are towards optimised control of the electric motor and improvement of
thermal protection. The investigation uses a combination of theoretical and practical
investigations.

The work aims to improve state of the art electric power drive trains. Modifications will
be made in the control algorithm of the drive. A test-rig will be used for practical
reference and to check feasibilities produced in this work. The final objective is a self-
tuning controller designed for optimal energy efficiency, focusing on an optimal
combination of magnetizing and armature currents. Consideration will be given to all
significant sources of loss. The control will be able to adapt itself to the driving habits of
the user to give the highest efficiency whilst satisfying the demands of the vehicle
driver.
 This project is due to start in September 2009.

Eligibility and Value of the Award

Depending on how you meet the EPSRC's eligibility criteria, you may receive a full
award (covers tuition fees and a stipend of £13,290 per annum; the stipend will be
enhanced above this level for well-qualified candidates or candidates with appropriate
industrial experience) or a partial award (covers tuition fees only).

Person Specification
Applicants should possess, or expect to be awarded, at least an upper-second-class
Honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject (sciences, technology or
engineering).

How to Apply
You should complete the University's online postgraduate application form, quoting the
code EE012 and selecting 'PhD School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer
Engineering - Electrical and Electronic Engineering'. A CV including contact details of
two referees and a personal statement stating why you are suitable for this studentship
should be attached to the application form.

You should also send a copy of your CV and personal statement, quoting the code
EE012, to Mrs Gill Webber, gill.webber@ncl.ac.uk, (School of Electrical, Electronic and
Computer Engineering, Merz Court, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 7RU).

Closing date for applications: 31st July 2009

Further Information
For more details, please contact Dr Volker Pickert, volker.pickert@ncl.ac.uk

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Student Eligibility

These are our general rules for eligibility of students supported through EPSRC funding. We
do not give money directly to students, but fund universities through training grants. Final
decisions on eligibility are made by universities - if you have questions about eligibility
please contact universities directly, and they should advise you on residence requirements
and qualifications.

Training grants to universities include funding for fees and stipends (maintenance payments
for students).
Residence Requirements
To be eligible for a full award (stipend and fees):
A student must have:
1. Settled status in the UK, meaning they have no restrictions on how long they can
stay

and

2. Been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the grant. This
means they must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or
occasional absences)

and

3. Not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education.
(This does not apply to UK or EU nationals)

To be eligible for a fees only award:

4. All EU nationals are eligible to receive fees only if they do not have settled status in
the UK
Note: These eligibility criteria are based on the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations
1997 and subsequent amendments, covering England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and
Wales.
For more detailed rules on eligibility please contact university postgraduate admissions
departments.
Academic Qualifications
Students must be able to demonstrate “a capability to undertake and benefit from research
training through to completion, to the standard necessary to qualify for a PhD.” This
normally requires an upper second class honours degree, or a combination of qualifications
and/or experience equivalent to that level. However, universities can use their discretion in
deciding whether candidates are suitable for research training.