Development of a Three Dimensional Multiscale Computational Model of the Human Epidermis. Adra, S.; Sun, T.; MacNeil, S.; Holcombe, M.; Smallwood, R., PLOS ONE 2010 5 (1): Art. No. E8511. Link

Scaling Effects in Notched Composites. Wisnom, M. R.; Hallett, S. R.; Soutis, C., Journal Of Composite Materials 2010 44 (2): 195-210. Link

Intrinsic extracellular matrix properties regulate stem cell differentiation. Reilly, G.C.; Engler, A.J., Journal Of Biomechanics 2010 43 (1): 55-62 Sp. Iss. Si. Link

Characterisation of the dispersion stability of a stimulus responsive core-shell colloidal latex. Reis, B.M.; Armes, S.P.; Fujii, S.; Biggs, S., Colloids And Surfaces A-Physicochemical And Engineering Aspects 2010 353 (2-3): 210-215. Link

Development of an lbuprofen-Releasing Biodegradable PLA/PGA Electrospun Scaffold for Tissue Regeneration. Canton, I.; Mckean, R.; Charnley, M.; Blackwood, K.A.; Fiorica, C.; Ryan, A.J.; MacNeil, S., Biotechnology And Bioengineering 2010 105 (2): 396-408. Link

A General Profile Parameterization of Hydrodynamic Journal Bearings for Efficient Shape Optimization. Pang, Xiaoping; Qin, Ning; Dwyer-Joyce, Rob S.; Chen, Jin; Wang, Jiaxu.  Tribology Transactions 2010 53 (1): 117-126. Link

Development of a calcium-chelating hydrogel for treatment of superficial burns and scalds. Bullock, A. J.; Pickavance, P.; Haddow, D. B.; Rimmer, S.; MacNeil, S., Regenerative Medicine 2010 5 (1): 55-64. Link

Microstructural Analysis of Ultrasonic Welded AA6061 by Electron Backscattered Diffraction. Zhu, Z.; Wynne, B. P.; Ghassemieh, E.; Siddiq, A., Rare Metal Materials And Engineering 2009 38: 147-151 Suppl. 3. Link

Non-Fouling Character of Poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl Phosphorylcholine]-Modified Gold Surfaces Fabricated by the ‘Grafting to’ Method: Comparison of its Protein Resistance with Poly(ethylene glycol)-Modified Gold Surfaces. Yoshimoto, K.; Hirase, T.; Madsen, J.; Armes, S.P.; Nagasaki, Y., Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2009 30 (24): 2136-2140. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

Interested candidates should download the PDF below for contact details and more information. Recruitment will continue until all vacancies are filled.

Applied Research Scientists (PDF, 48 kB)

The research, which will be conducted in the Faculty of Engineering, will see academics work on innovative ways to create a safer, greener and faster rail system.

Work at the University has already begun on a number of key projects with sustainability as a focus, including one Polymer Centre project to create railway sleepers from recycled plastic under the supervision of Dr Alma Hodzic. These would be a more carbon-friendly option compared to concrete, would reduce plastic waste and extend the life of sleepers.

Other work being conducted at the University includes research into harnessing energy on the rail network and using alternative energy sources to reduce the reliance on wired power supplies. Researchers will also be exploring ways to reduce the wear of the overhead power-lines on the railway network and are already looking at methods of extending the life of bridges and other infrastructure. This could be done by adapting measurements and predicting problems before they arise, in order to avoid delays to train timetables, passengers and road users.

In addition, the University is already developing standard tests for assessing traction gels used to increase wheel grip on the rail when leaves are on the line – one of the main causes of commuter delays during the autumn months. Dr Roger Lewis, a Senior Lecturer from the University´s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Polymer Centre has also produced a one-stop reference on the issue entitled the Wheel/Rail Interface Handbook.

The RITC, forms part of Network Rail´s long-term planning and strategy to invest in skills as part of its five year Delivery Plan. Network Rail will invest £1m over a 5 year period to help fund the research with the academics at the University. Then, after identifying research and development needs, academics will present Network Rail with a range of state-of-the-art engineering research outcomes.

Dr Robert Harrison, of the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: “The University of Sheffield is thrilled at the prospect of working with such a big partner like Network Rail and applying our world-class research to some of the issues faced by the rail system.”

Steve Yianni, Engineering Director for Network Rail, said: “We have had a long and successful working relationship with the University of Sheffield on which we can now build for the benefit of our customers”.

Studentships (current estimated value per student of £66,838) will be awarded to companies with the EPSRC funding provided to the host university through Industrial CASE Accounts. Companies must contribute a minimum of one-third of this (ca. £22k) in addition over the three years and may contribute more depending on the requirements of the proposed research. More information is available from the EPSRC at the link below.

The University of Sheffield and the Polymer Centre have a strong track record in developing commercially-relevant PhD studentships to meet strategic needs of companies through world-leading research using the Industrial CASE scheme. Companies who wish to discuss a potential idea are invited to contact Dr Joe Gaunt, Polymer Centre Business Development Consultant.

EPSRC Industrial CASE

Contact Joe Gaunt

The post-holder will stimulate interest in the training, technology, expertise and facilities within S3 by proactive engagement with business, civil service and other external partners and subsequent running of technical projects. The ideal applicant will be educated to PhD/degree level (or equivalent), with experience of research and development in synthetic chemistry or a related field, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) education, technology transfer and project management, and will have a good understanding of the issues associated with business-university interactions.

The post is funded by a combination of the Higher Education Innovation Fund and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through grants held within Sheffield’s Polymer Centre based in the Department of Chemistry. The post-holder will engage with the Nanofactory consortium of 6 Yorkshire universities in delivering the ERDF-funded “MNT2″ (Micro- and Nanotechnology 2) programme in support of Yorkshire-based SMEs and will report to the Polymer Centre Manager.

This post is fixed-term and will be available immediately until 31st July 2011. Closing date for applications is 1st March 2010. Please visit Sheffield’s jobs site via the link below for application instructions and forms. Visitors should click on the Search link to launch our electronic HR database; this role is categorised as Managerial, Administrative and Professional. Potential candidates are also welcome to contact Liam Sutton, Polymer Centre Manager, for an informal discussion about the role.

Sheffield jobs

Liam Sutton

The Nanofactory, which brings together nanotechnology experts from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam, together with academics from Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, is looking to form partnerships with companies interested in exploring new business opportunities based on latest advances in nanotechnology.

The project is part-funded by a £1m investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme that is making substantial investments over the next three years to create jobs and increase business competitiveness in the region.

Liam Sutton, Manager of the Polymer Centre and the University of Sheffield’s lead officer for Nanofactory, said: “The University of Sheffield prides itself on its track record of helping companies of all shapes and sizes to build their businesses through innovation in partnership with some of the world’s leading scientists and engineers. Through the Nanofactory initiative, we’ll be able to match companies’ needs and challenges to our capabilities and design projects that improve our partners’ bottom line while delivering scientific advances to the benefit of everyone.”

Dr Nick Farmilo, from Sheffield Hallam’s Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI), said: “Nanotechnology is ‘small-scale science’ that enables the unique properties and behaviours of particles and materials to be applied in a diverse range of sectors – from medical device companies and chemicals firms through to engineering, food technology and construction businesses.

“The expertise at Sheffield Hallam has proved to be invaluable in driving forward nanotechnology and making it accessible for small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) to whom it has often been out of reach in the past.”

Partnerships with Nanofactory universities will allow SMEs to explore this new area of technology and potentially apply for a range of external funding opportunities – for example European Union funding, and Technology Strategy Board grants.

Nanofactory’s Director, Professor Richard Williams added: “Nanofactory connects the knowledge and expertise of academic researchers with the needs and challenges of companies in the region. This offers a powerful combination and driver for innovation. As a result new fundamental and applied research programmes will be stimulated and leading university researchers will seek out funding and partnerships to deliver these.”

The project will launch a series of sector-specific workshops around the region during 2010, at which the benefits of new nanotechnology advances will be outlined and discussed with delegates. The events will provide a forum for companies, those in the supply chain and technology experts to brainstorm ideas for future R&D possibilities. Ideas that are generated may form the basis of grant applications to appropriate funding bodies.

Contact Dr Liam Sutton

Visit MERI at SHU

Venue: University of Sheffield

These IRC courses, presented by Professor John Ebdon (JRE) and Dr Barry Hunt (BJH), are designed as an introduction to the subject of polymer science and give an overview of how this applies to a wide range of materials, processes, products and applications. If your company works with plastics, rubbers, adhesives, composites, coatings, fibres or packaging and requires some basic knowledge about polymeric materials, or have a requirement to analyse or characterise their behaviour, then these courses will benefit you.

Basic Polymer Science part I introduces the science underlying the synthesis and processing of polymers. It will provide you with some basic information about polymer structure and properties, and present some examples of their applications.

Basic Polymer Science part II provides an overview of the range of modern instrumental techniques which can be used to analyse the structure and behaviour of polymeric materials. It will give a more detailed and in-depth view of some of the topics briefly presented in part I.

You can attend either of these modules independently, but they are designed to complement one another and to give a comprehensive introduction to Polymer Science.

To register, or for further information, see the links below:

Registration form

Pay online

Further details on all IRC courses

Please contact Shelagh Cowley if you have any questions or would like further information.

The International Conference on Interfaces and Interphases in Multicomponent Materials (IIMM)

A Merged Meeting of ICCI and IPCM will be held in Sheffield between the 1st-3rd September 2010.

The conference will focus on the theory and practice of interfaces and interphases in the following areas:

• Synthetic and natural fibre/filler based composites
• Fibre reinforced polymer composites
• Metal and ceramic matrix composites
• Processing of interfaces and interphases in multicomponent materials
• Nanocomposites and other nanostructured functional materials
• Surface treatments for carbon nanotubes , nanofibres and graphene modifiers
• Interfaces in polymer blends and other multicomponent, multiphase Materials
• Interfaces in self healing coatings and composites
• Interfaces/interphases in biomedical materials and tissue engineering
• Theoretical modelling of interfaces and interphases
• New characterization techniques

For more information, and the first call for papers, see the IIMM 2010 website:

IIMM 2010

Differential patterning of neuronal, glial and neural progenitor cells on phosphorus-doped and UV irradiated diamond-like carbon. Regan, E.M.; Uney, J.B.; Dick, A.D.; Zhang, Y.; Nunez-Yanez, J.; McGeehan, J.P.; Claeyssens, F.; Kelly, S., Biomaterials 2010 31 (2): 207-215. Link

Mass spectrometry of hyper-velocity impacts of organic micrograins. Srama, R.; Woiwode, W.; Postberg, F.; Armes, S.P.; Fujii, S; Dupin, D.; Ormond-Prout, J.; Sternovsky, Z.; Kempf, S.; Moragas-Kiostermeyer, G.; Mocker, A.; Gruen, E., Rapid Communications In Mass Spectrometry 2009 23 (24): 3895-3906. Link

Estimating clamping pressure distribution and stiffness in aircraft bolted joints by finite-element analysis. Oskouei, R. H.; Keikhosravy, M.; Soutis, C., Proceedings Of The Institution Of Mechanical Engineers Part G-Journal Of Aerospace Engineering 2009 223 (G7): 863-871. Link

Phenylenevinylene Block Copolymers via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization. Yu, C.; Kingsley, J.W.; Lidzey, D.G.; Turner, M.L., Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2009 30 (22): 1889-1892. Link

A Micromechanical Model to Predict Mechanical Durability of Glass Multifilament Bundles in Rubber Composite. Ghosh, S.B.; Bhowmik, D.; Hand, R.J.; Jones, F.R., Journal Of Engineering Materials And Technology-Transactions Of The Asme 2010 132 (1): Art. No. 011014. Link

Real-time vapour sensing using an OFET-based electronic nose and genetic programming. Wedge, D.C.; Das, A.; Dost, R.; Kettle, J.; Madec, M.; Morrison, J.J.; Grell, M.; Kell, D.B.; Richardson, T.H.; Yeates, S.; Turner, M.L., Sensors And Actuators B-Chemical 2009 143 (1): 365-372. Link

Carbon nitride: Ab initio investigation of carbon-rich phases. Hart, J.N.; Claeyssens, F.; Allan, N.L.; May, P.W., Physical Review B 2009 80 (17): Art. No. 174111. Link

Sub-micron poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) particles as temperature responsive vehicles for the detachment and delivery of human cells. Hopkins, S.; Carter, S.R.; Haycock, J.W.; Fullwood, N.J.; MacNeil, S.; Rimmer, S., Soft Matter 2009 5 (24): 4928-4937. Link

Predicting the Structure of Supramolecular Dendrimers via the Analysis of Libraries of AB(3) and Constitutional Isomeric AB(2) Biphenylpropyl Ether Self-Assembling Dendrons. Rosen, B.M.; Wilson, D.A.; Wilson, C.J.; Peterca, M.; Won, B.C.; Huang, C.; Lipski, L.R.; Zeng, X.; Ungar, G.; Heiney, P.A.; Percec, V., Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2009 131 (47): 17500-17521. Link

Structural and thermal study of mesomorphic dodecylammonium carrageenates. Vincekovic, M.; Pustak, A.; Tusek-Bozic, Lj.; Liu, F.; Ungar, G.; Bujan, M.; Smit, I.; Filipovic-Vincekovic, N., Journal Of Colloid And Interface Science 2010 341 (1): 117-123. Link

List generated using ISI Web of Knowledge.

In looking forward to the challenges of a 2010 that seems pretty uncertain from the Higher Education perspective, it’s informative to review the service we provided during 2009, building partnerships between business and the University of Sheffield and delivering real benefits to economy and society based on the research and teaching excellence offered by our institution.

Our mission in the Polymer Centre is to market the skills, facilities and expertise of the UK’s largest single-university network of polymer scientists and engineers both internally and externally to foster interdisciplinary, innovative R&D and flexible, relevant training in the subject. We work symbiotically with our spin-out service company, FaraPack Polymers Ltd, which offers the man-power to undertake PhD-level research on commercial timescales with academic consultancy input where necessary.

2009 in numbers

• 991: Contacts added to or edited in our database – people we have spoken to at Sheffield or on site vists, at trade shows such as Nanotech Tokyo 2009, Nanomaterials ‘09 and UK NanoForum, at British Plastics Federation events and during our training events
• 62: Projects proposed by the Polymer Centre team, meeting clients’ needs for strategic R&D, troubleshooting and skills development
• 81: Projects proposed by the FaraPack Polymers team
• 203: Delegates at our two conferences
• 60: Trainees on our two open courses
• $2m: Headline value of a trio of collaborative projects between Dr Alma Hodzic and Qatar University, funded by the Qatar Science and Technology Park. The Polymer Centre will be running an open 5-day course on Polymers and Composites at QSTP in February 2010
• 42: Academic groups represented by the Polymer Centre following Joe Gaunt’s audit of Sheffield capability in early 2009

Outlook

Through a continued focus on customer service, we are on track to demonstrate substantial growth in 09/10 of the number, range and value of the opportunities we secure for collaboration between companies and the University of Sheffield. Companies should be assured that we will continue to offer a point-of-contact for all enquiries related to polymers and we will tailor our response to your needs. Our academics should take some comfort that, in a year where severe cutbacks in HEFCE and RCUK funding will start to take effect, we “third-streamers” are focused on connecting you with new problems and innovation-related funding sources, with the opportunity to demonstrate real impact based on Sheffield’s research excellence.

Liam Sutton

Polymers and Composites