Vacancies - General Information
Applications from excellent students are always welcome. Applications to the University are handled centrally and can be submitted online. As listed in the University of Cambridge Graduate Prospectus, there are a number of funding opportunities for overseas, EU or UK students. However, these schemes are very competitive and the funding deadlines are often 9-12 months before the proposed date of entry. Prospective students are therefore encouraged to submit their applications to the University early and to apply to as many funding sources as possible. For example, a number of countries run national scholarship schemes. Talented EU or UK students will be eligible to be considered for funding administered by the Department on behalf of the Research Councils.
Project-specific funding can also be available. In such cases, funding from the Research Councils and/or Industry has been obtained to undertake novel research in a specified area. Currently funded vacancies in my research group are indicated below.
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Funded Vacancy for Spring/Summer 2011
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PhD Research Studentship
High performance prestressed concrete structures
The provision of reinforced or prestressed concrete infrastructure with extended lifetimes relies on the long-term durability of the structural system. A particular challenge is that the exposure conditions for structures in service can be severe and include repeated loadings and aggressive environmental conditions over a timeframe of more than 50-100 years. This project will investigate the use of innovative high strength concrete prestressed with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons. Promising applications for this system include light-weight slender elements such as spun-concrete electricity pylons and external façades. One particular strand of this exciting project is to assess the interactions between the mechanical and environmental exposure regimes, the CFRP tendon behaviour and the implications for both the surrounding concrete and the overall structural system. It is envisaged that the project will include a targeted experimental programme on representative high strength prestressed concrete samples. The experimental work will be supported with analytical studies to predict the time-dependent behaviour and the implications over the lifetime of the structure.
The three-year PhD studentship will be based at the University of Cambridge but will be conducted in collaboration with SACAC Ltd and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA). It is anticipated that the project will include opportunities to visit our collaborators in Switzerland.
Applicants must have a strong first degree in a relevant engineering or science subject. Knowledge of structural analysis and design and/or mechanics of materials is also desirable. The post is available from Spring/Summer 2011. The studentship will provide maintenance and covers approved College and University fees for UK/EU/Swiss students over the three-year period.
Please send a covering letter, a CV, your academic transcripts, and the names of two academic referees that can be contacted should you be short-listed, to Dr Janet Lees, Department of Engineering, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, (Tel +44 (0)1223 332678, Fax +44 (0)1223 332662, email jmL2@eng.cam.ac.uk), to reach her not later than 31st January 2011. Informal enquiries about this post may also be addressed to Dr Lees.
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