Department of Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Location:  Guildford
Salary:  £31,302 to £38,833 per annum  
Fixed Term
Post Type:  Full Time    
Closing Date:  Friday 31 May 2019

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position starting from 2^nd September 2019, to provide a fundamental understanding of the role of bioinspired microstructural features in determining the mechanical properties of novel zirconia-based and alumina-based composites for dental crown applications. The aim is to provide new insights into addressing the longevity challenge of dental restorative products.

This research programme is funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the New Investigator Scheme (Dr Tan Sui, the grant holder, https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/tan-sui), and is a joint collaboration between universities of Surrey, Bristol and Birmingham, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Your role will be to use advanced experimental techniques (e.g. focused ion beam (FIB), in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) mechanical testing), as well as numerical micromechanical modelling to provide new insights into the structure-function properties of bioinspired dental based composites to facilitate the novel design of dental crowns.

You will be a highly motivated individual with a strong academic background in advanced microstructural characterisation techniques. Expertise in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB) and/or micropillar compression are essential. Prior experience and working knowledge in finite element method and programming are preferable.

Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential, and you must be willing to work and collaborate with academics, scientists and industry experts from complementary disciplines. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research group at Surrey.

For informal discussions regarding this post, please contact Dr Tan Sui, email: t.sui@surrey.ac.uk