Materials & Surface Science Institute
The Materials & Surface Science Institute (MSSI) was established in 1998 as a large-scale research institute focussed on the development and characterisation of novel materials. The Institute is the largest research institute at the University of Limerick, Ireland and currently houses 200 researchers. The research of the Institute is focused on four themes: Nanomaterials, Composite and Glass Materials, Biomaterials and Bio/Catalysis and Clean Technology. MSSI has been successful in obtaining €5.8 million to fund research in microscopy, nanomaterials and computational nanomechanics as part of the national consortium on Nanoscience and Nanoscale Technologies for Ireland (NANOTEIRE). As part of this research programme, four PhD Studentships are now available. Individual research projects are listed below and enquiries should be directed to the named supervisor who will supply fuller details of each project. Each studentship is expected to lead to the award of PhD degree and to generate a considerable level of publication in refereed journals. Each studentship will be four years in duration with stipend/fees worth €23,000 per annum.
Project 1: Strain Determination Using Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction
Supervisors: Dr David Tanner, MSSI, University of Limerick, Ireland. Professor Shohei Nakahara, MSSI, University of Limerick, Ireland.
Contact: Dr David Tanner at david.tanner@ul.ie
Seeking graduates in engineering, engineering mechanics, physics, materials science or related discipline to apply Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction (CBED) methods to an analysis of strains in materials-science oriented problems using TEM. A demonstrable background in instrumentation, computer analysis methods and an understanding of materials would be helpful.
Project 2: Molecular Foundations of Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of Bone
Supervisors: Dr Tofail Syed, MSSI, University of Limerick, Ireland. Dr Hugh Byrne, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland.
Contact: Dr Tofail Syed at tofail.syed@ul.ie
Seeking graduates in Chemistry, Physics or Materials Science with strong mechanics and mathematics background. Experience in quantum physics or chemistry, ab initio simulations, molecular dynamics simulation and/or MATLAB applications will be useful.
Project 3: Functionalized Intercalated Nanomaterials for Nanophotonics and Energy Storage (FINNESE)
Supervisor: Dr Colm O'Dwyer, MSSI, University of Limerick, Ireland.
Contact: Dr Colm O'Dwyer at colm.odwyer@ul.ie
Applications are invited for candidates with a strong background in (nano)materials science, solid state physics and chemistry. Experience in inorganic synthesis techniques would be a distinct advantage.
Project 4: Computational Nanomechanics of Nanocomposites
Supervisors: Professor Michael McCarthy, MSSI, University of Limerick, Ireland. Professor William Curtin, Brown University, USA.
Contact: Professor Michael McCarthy at michael.mccarthy@ul.ie
Seeking graduates in engineering, physics or materials science with strong mechanics and mathematics background. Experience in FORTRAN programming, Molecular Dynamics simulations and/or Finite Element Analysis helpful.
