Research Fellow in 3D Printing of Liquid Crystal Elastomers

About us

The Manufacturing Futures Laboratory (MFL) is a newly opened multidisciplinary research and teaching hub located at UCL East in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Bringing together academics from Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, and Chemistry, the MFL drives strategic research and industry collaboration focused on sustainable technologies and future manufacturing.

The facility contains state-of-the-art equipment that supports both specialized research and end-to-end manufacturing studies spanning chemical, biological, and physical processing routes. The Adaptive Smart Matter group, led by Dr. Morgan Barnes and based within the MFL and part of the Mechanical Engineering Department, combines polymer chemistry, mechanics, and advanced manufacturing to develop responsive materials capable of sensing and adapting to their environment across molecular-, nano-, micro-, and macro-scales. The group develops these materials for applications in biomedicine, net zero energy technologies, and soft robotics.

About the role

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are an emerging class of smart materials that combine the anisotropy of liquid crystals with the elasticity of polymer networks. External stimuli including heat, light, electric current, and magnetic fields can induce a reversible nematic-to-isotropic phase transition, enabling switchable changes in opacity, damping, elasticity, and shape. When molecular alignment is programmed across micro- to macro-scales, LCEs can undergo complex reversible shape morphing, including linear contraction, cone formation from flat sheets, and gripping motions.

This project will explore advanced manufacturing approaches for LCEs using direct ink writing 3D printing, where shear forces during printing align liquid crystals along the print path. The successful candidate will adapt an existing print head for 5-axis printing and develop new slicing algorithms to fabricate curved LCE surfaces with spatially varying alignment profiles. The project combines polymer chemistry, software development, additive manufacturing, and mechanics to create a novel manufacturing platform for biomedical soft robotics applications.

About you

Candidates should hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, including Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Experience in direct ink writing 3D printing, liquid crystal elastomers, polymer mechanics, and software development is highly desirable. The successful applicant should demonstrate strong experimental and analytical skills, the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience supervising students or contributing to collaborative research projects would be advantageous.

We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.

Please note that all offers are subject to candidates having the right to work in the United Kingdom or meeting the points threshold to apply for a Skilled Worker visa.