Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Researcher in Acoustic and mechanical metamaterials for biomedical and energy harvesting applications – ‘MetacMed’

Are you an early career researcher looking for your first challenge? Do you have a background in metamaterials and/or ultrasonics? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities?

Applications are invited from suitable qualified candidates for a full time, fixed-term position of 36 months duration as a Doctoral Candidate (DC) at the University of Leeds, UK. This position is DC6, is funded in the UK by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and is one of 12 DCs being recruited as a part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network on Acoustic and mechanical metamaterials for biomedical and energy harvesting applications – ‘MetacMed’, GRANT-101119738, see www.metacmed.eu. The successful applicant will be enrolled on a PhD programme within the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, and will work on the topic of “Metamaterial adaptive filters for harmonic imaging in clinical applications” under the supervision of Professor Steven Freear. There are planned secondments to the University of Calabria, Italy, for 5 months during the second year of funding, and to Amazemet, Poland, for 2 months during the third year of funding.

The MetacMed doctoral network aims to link basic research on acoustic and mechanical metamaterials to health and well-being issues. Each DC will consider ways in which human health can be improved using metamaterials, e.g. improvement in the resolution of biomedical ultrasound imaging for cancer diagnosis, the design of better spinal implants, monitoring of bone healing, and the use of insoles to aid human walking. Another area of interest is to develop metamaterials that can be used for energy harvesting, to better power e.g. medical devices, and reduce reliance on conventional power sources. These are all backed up by fundamental studies into the metamaterials themselves to provide the background to achieve these tasks. The balance of the network has thus been carefully considered in terms of basic science and applications, with input from industry in areas such as metamaterial fabrication and exploitation. Associated with the above is a strong set of training events and tailored secondment periods at both associated partners and beneficiaries. Please visit www.metacmed.eu for further information.

This role will be based at the university of Leeds campus and there is scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Important eligibility rules for this position: 

There are no restrictions on the nationality, but 

Applicants must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment;At the time of recruitment, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (i.e. work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment under the “Metamaterial adaptive filters for harmonic imaging in clinical applications” project. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Steven Freear, Professor of Ultrasonics and Embedded Systems

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2076

Email: S.Freear@leeds.ac.uk 

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information, please visit: