PhD Research Studentships

Generation and deposition of liquid fragments

Supervisor:	Ahmed ISMAIL
Apply by:	7 September 2021

Description

The great interest in liquid fragmentation derives from the sea of applications within the chemical and biological sciences. For instance, micro-droplets dispersed within an immiscible continuous phase can mimic conditions similar to that of a single cell, allowing ultra-high throughput experimentations to understand the biological and chemical reactions. Other applications include protein crystallization, DNA sequencing, emulsion based bias-free PCR and cell sorting assays. In manufacturing industry, the generation of micro-droplets/jets has the added advantage of printing 2D and 3D structures. Depositing micro-droplets/jets is used for manufacturing TV displays, sensors, optoelectronic devices and conductive tracks for electronics. In biotechnology industry, biopolymer liquid loaded with living cells is dispensed in form of micro-droplets to create biological structures in a layer-by-layer manner allowing for manufacturing organs substitutes. This wide range of applications has motivated scientists to develop technologies in order to generate and deposit liquid fragments in form of droplets and jets. However, there remain significant challenges understanding fundamental interfacial science and optimize the fragmentation process.

The objective of this exciting research project is to explore the underpinning physics of phenomena related to the generation and deposition of micro-droplets/jets by means of external mechanical, hydrodynamic and electrical forces and build upon this knowledge to develop new microfluidic systems to break the limitation of the currently existing technologies. Such system will be used in many applications such as inkjet printing and microencapsulation. The successful candidate will obtain world leading training in a range of disciplines during the PhD including, advanced micro fabrication, high speed visualization, and developing scaling laws and theories.

The ideal candidate should have:

A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Physics, Engineering, or Applied Mathematics.
Proven experience in Fluid Dynamics.
Experience in a laboratory environment
Excellent English written and spoken communication skills

The following skills are desirable but not essential:

Ability to program in Labview
Ability to program in Matlab
General knowledge of electronics and optics
Knowledge of CFD

This opportunity is for a highly motivated person who is willing to dedicate full time to do experimental and theoretical work and has passion toward learning new things and conducting scientific research.

QMUL Research Studentship Details

Available to Home Applicants only.
Full Time programme only
Applicant required to start in either September 2021 or January 2022
The studentship arrangement will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend for up to three years (Currently set as £17,609 in 2021/22).
The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
If English is not your first language then you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).
Please note that this studentship is only available to Home Applicants. (See: http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/feestatus/ for details)

Supervisor Contact Details:

For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Dr Ahmed Ismail

Tel: 020 7882 6272

E-mail: a.ismail@qmul.ac.uk

Application Method:

To apply for this studentship and for entry on either the Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering programme (Full Time) please follow the instructions detailed on the following webpage:

Research degrees in Engineering: http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/engineering.html

Further Guidance: http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/

Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2021 SEMS AI’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.

Eligibility

The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
If English is not your first language, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).
Candidates are expected to start in (Semester ).
SEMS and Principal-funded studentships: this studentship arrangement covers home tuition fees and provides an annual stipend for up to three years (currently set at the 2023/24 stipend rate of £20,622 pa)
Note that Queen Mary Research Studentships cover home-rated tuition fees only (See: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/feestatus/ for details)
Overseas applicants would be required to meet the difference between home and international tuition fees

Contact

For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Ahmed ISMAIL.