PhD in Design, Development and Performance Evaluation of Engineered Wood Products developed using Irish-grown hardwoods

The successful candidate will work alongside the TU Dublin Project Lead, Dr Sameer Mehra, and will be co-supervised by Damien Cross at the Wood and Bio-based Materials Research Group (WBMRG), TU Dublin – City Campus. The candidate will collaborate with project partners on the BIOFABRICATE Project: Integrated Bio-based Innovations for Sustainable Manufacturing, Construction, and Pharmaceutical Applications from Irish Forest Biomass. Led by the University of Galway (UoG), BIOFABRICATE is a multi-institutional research program involving Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin City University (DCU), Teagasc, and various industry partners. This project aims to develop and validate advanced bio-based materials and technologies from Ireland's growing forest biomass for applications in engineered timber construction, manufacturing, food packaging, and pharmaceuticals.

The PhD candidate will focus on developing novel engineered wood products (EWPs) from Irish hardwoods - a largely untapped resource with limited precedent for structural or modular timber systems in Ireland. This research forms part of Task 5, "Material Innovation and Small-Scale Prototyping of Bio-Based and Circular Engineered Wood Products," which seeks to advance sustainable, bio-based, and circular engineered wood systems for Irish structural applications. The candidate will help identify suitable Irish-grown hardwood resources, support material sourcing and characterisation, and develop small-scale hardwood-only and hybrid softwood-hardwood prototypes for structural and modular uses. Research activities will encompass prototype manufacturing, processing studies, mechanical and physical characterisation, structural and durability assessments, and the generation of performance data to support larger-scale structural testing and numerical modelling in subsequent project tasks. The candidate will work closely with project partners at UoG, TCD, DCU, ATU Galway, and Teagasc, as well as industry collaborators, offering excellent opportunities for research, training, industry engagement, and dissemination.

Health, Engineering and Materials Science Research Hub - https://www.tudublin.ie/research-innovation/research/discover-our-research/research-hubs/health-engineering-materials-science/

School of Architecture, Building and Environment (SABE) –

https://www.tudublin.ie/explore/faculties-and-schools/engineering-built-environment/architecture-building-and-environment/

Essential requirements/ Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (minimum 2.1 grade or equivalent) in wood science, timber technology, wood science and engineering, timber engineering, civil or structural engineering, materials science, manufacturing, construction technology, or a closely related discipline.
• Valid authorisation to reside, work, and travel freely within the European Union for the project's duration.
• Fluency in English, with excellent report-writing and oral presentation skills.
• Strong organisational, time-management, and prioritisation abilities.
• The capacity to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Proficiency in IT and professional social networking.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Desirable requirements/ Qualifications

• Knowledge of timber mechanics, timber engineering, and the physical properties of wood.
• Experience with the microscopic analysis of wood.
• Background in timber materials, laboratory testing, CAD/CAM, material characterisation, structural design, sustainable construction, or prototype development.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• A full, clean Irish/European Union driving license.

The candidate must be self-motivated and willing to acquire the broader skills necessary for the successful completion of a PhD.

If either English or Irish is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to the web link  English Language Requirements | Technological University Dublin to view the minimum English language proficiency standards for entry to TU Dublin.

Project Start Date: September 1st, 2026

Funding Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Thematic Research Call 2025 (Project Ref: 2025R_544)

Student Stipend per annum: €25,000

Fees covered by the funding per annum: EU tuition fees will be covered by the project

 € 5,500

Materials & Travel Budget per annum: Covered by the project funding

Duration of Funding: 48 Months

Application Closing Date: July 21^st, 2026

 Applicants should submit:

• A Curriculum Vitae (maximum 4 pages, including 2 referees).
• A copy of academic transcripts.
• A Personal Statement (maximum 1 page) outlining:

• How you meet the position's requirements.
• Why you wish to pursue this PhD research program.

Applications must be submitted to sameer.mehra@tudublin.ie  and cc'd to damien.cross@tudublin.ie  (Subject line: "Application to BIOFABRICATE_PhD 1 - [Your Name]"). Note: Applications missing this exact subject line may not be recorded.

Please ensure all documents are attached as a single Word or PDF file.