Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. The PhD scholarship is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Additive Manufacturing in collaboration with the University of Nottingham, University of Liverpool, Loughborough and Newcastle University. The studentship starts with a 1 year expert training programme in Additive Manufacturing where the students will be based at the University of Nottingham. The following 3 years will based at Loughborough University where the PhD research program will be carried out. The focus of this project is on ceramic 3D printing for high temperature applications in the investment casting process. The investment casting (lost wax casting) process is the most common process used to produce blades and vanes for power generator gas turbines. Most of the blades and vanes have internal cooling airways, which often is produced during the casting process by inserting a ceramic core inside the casting civility. These ceramic cores (parts) have two main properties: 1- Heat and thermal shock resistance in 1000C to 1500C; 2- Accurate dimensions and fine surface finish. Read more about selecting the appropriate ceramic core for investment casting applications here. The industrial partner on this project is a French lost-wax casting company, with a worldwide reputation in industrial gas turbine industry for manufacturing hot section parts.