PhD Studentship in the preservation of Additive Manufactured (3D printed) objects

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The preservation of Additive Manufactured (3D printed) objects in museum and heritage collections: Preserving the Future of the Past

Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is pleased to offer this three-and-a-half years full-time stipend and tuition fees bursary for the above PhD opportunity to outstanding applicants seeking to begin a programme of research with AUB in February 2025.

The studentship is within the new Plastic Innovation and Curation Research Centre at the university, which is funded by the UKRI E3 Expanding Excellence grant. The Research Centre will explore how plastics degrade over time and behave in different environments, resulting in research that will have international impact to both the museum and heritage sector and value to materials selection and testing in modern design and manufacturing.

	Bursary details
Qualification type	PhD
Location	Bournemouth
Funding for	UK Students
Funding amount	Annual stipend, currently £19,237* and home fee tuition fees paid
Hours	Full- or part-time*
Application deadline	1 December 2024

* Stipend may not be payable for part-time routes.

Application overview

This research combines the expertise of AUB’s Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP) with the design, manufacturing and testing capabilities of the Creative Technologies Research Group based at AUB’s Innovation Studio working closing with both the heritage sector and manufacturing industries. The PlastIC laboratory is equipped for non-destructive analysis techniques to assess the performance of materials, as well as having weathering equipment to test and assess the stability of materials under different weathering conditions.

As Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) method becomes more prevalent in the production of artifacts, museums and heritage institutions are increasingly faced with the challenge of preserving these objects. Understanding the historical context of Additive Manufactured items, their materials, and appropriate care methods is crucial for maintaining their integrity and longevity within collections. This work will contribute to the PlastIC Research Centre and involve material composition assessment, testing, and developing collection care and curation protocols. You'll be required to collaborate closely with the MoDiP team and the wider heritage sector.

While the successful candidate will have a degree of freedom in developing their research, it's envisaged that applicants will have a background in the field of heritage and conservation.

Supervision will be led by Professor Christian McLening, Director of Research and Development.

Informal enquiries are welcome – please contact plastic@aub.ac.uk.

Candidates for a PhD studentship must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in three-and-a-half years (full-time) or five years (part-time).
Applicants should hold a first or 2:1 Honours degree and typically a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject.
Applicants with alternative qualifications/experience will be considered if they can demonstrate relevant achievement. Applicants whose first language is not English will be expected to have an IELTS score of at least 7.0 with 7.0 minimum in writing.
In addition to satisfying basic entry criteria, AUB will look closely at the research potential and academic qualities of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful and timely completion.

Applications are also invited from students who wish to self-fund their studies for projects that align to the aims of the Centre.

Please refer to the bursary terms and conditions for further details. We particularly welcome applicants who self-identify as being from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME/Global Majority) background.

How to apply

All applicants should apply via the University’s online application portal: https://aub.ac.uk/graduate-courses/research-degrees
As part of the application, you will be required to submit a 1,500-word proposal that follows the guidelines available on the website; and two academic references. You should also upload a copy of your CV.
You should clearly state in your proposal that you wish to be considered for this bursary.
Closing date for applications is Sunday 1 December 2024. Interviews/Open Day will take place in December.