Ciência sem Fronteiras (Science Without Borders)
DCU PhD Project Template:
**Please use one form per project**
Please complete & submit to your Head of School by Monday 16th July
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr. Bryan Mac Donald
E: [email protected] t:+353-1-700846
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Research Centre / group affiliation:
MEDeng Centre
Research group / centre website:
www.medeng.dcu.ie
PI website / link to CV:
http://webpages.dcu.ie/~macdonab/bmacd_cv_2012.pdf
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
The MEDeng centre develops new knowledge in biomaterials science; experimental, theoretical and
computational mechanics; and bio-manufacturing processes. Our work is directed towards the
development of improved medical devices and implants.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
“Design and Optimisation of Implantable Bio-absorbable Magnesium Alloy Orthopaedic Medical
Devices”
There are a number of problems inherent with the use of magnesium alloys for medical implants
such controlling the rate of corrosion/absorbtion and the fact that a large volume of the alloy will
produce a significant amount of gas during absorbtion. In order to overcome these problems
advanced manufacturing techniques are required that produce strong devices with as little material
volume as possible. This suggests, for example, the use of hollow tubular structures rather than
plates for orthopaedic implants. There is currently little information available in published literature
regarding the manufacture and in service behaviour of such devices. This project seeks to develop
methods for manufacturing such implants and optimise their design and in-service behaviour and
thus establish procedures for best practice when designing magnesium alloy medical devices.
Unique selling points of PhD project in DCU:
DCU projects should offer something that’s not available in Brazil – specific equipment, multi-disciplinarity,
aspects of structured programme, links with industry, placements, links with other research groups etc.
The expertise in this area already exists in DCU. DCU is one of the international leaders in this field.
There are also strong links with clinicians and surgeons to provide guidance and to test the tools
that this research will generate. Existing links with the Irish medical device industry will also be exploited
for this project.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Mechanical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
X
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)
Health and Biomedical Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technology of prevention and remediation of natural disasters
Biodiversity and Bioprospection
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please complete