A new £300,000 research programme at the University of Warwick has need of two postgraduate research students to help researchers literally paint an electronic power system onto plastic surfaces using injection moulding technology.

The new technology, under development at WMG, a University of Warwick department specialising in applied technology innovation, can cheaply and easily paint even and thin films of electronically active surfaces on to a plastic component or product as it is being manufactured.

Lead researcher Professor Gordon Smith from WMG at the University of Warwick said:

"This technology opens up a wealth of possibilities, plastic drink bottles could have moving displays created as an integral part of the bottle - or instead of tracking products by hiding RFID tags in them the whole product or a major plastic component of it could effectively be turned into a giant impossible to remove tag."

"The £300,000 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) via Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) will be of enormous help in refining this new technology. This funding also provides an exciting opportunity for two bright young doctoral students to work in an exciting environment where they can play a role in the development of a whole new wave of consumer products and technology."

Anyone interested in this postgraduate opportunity should email G.F.Smith@warwick.ac.uk NB to be eligible the students have to be EU nationals.

For further information please contact:

Professor Gordon Smith, WMG, University of Warwick
02476 523784
G.F.Smith@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Dunn,
Press and Media Relations Manager
University of Warwick,
email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: 024 76 523708
Mobile/Cell: 07767 655860

Zoë Howard, WMG, University of Warwick,
on 02476 524721 or 07824 540845
email Zoe.Howard@warwick.ac.uk

PR13 27th February 2008