If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the project supervisors.
Deakin-Bayreuth Cotutelle – Shape-changing fiber-based architectures via nonplanar additive manufacturing
Applications will remain open until a candidate has been appointed
Supporting a PhD candidate to research shape-changing fiber-based architectures via nonplanar additive manufacturing in Australia (Deakin University) and Germany (University of Bayreuth).
Key details
Project supervisor
Additional supervisors
Prof Leonid Ionov (University of Bayreuth)
Deakin school and faculty
School of Engineering
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Location
Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus (Australia) and University of Bayreuth (Germany)
Value and duration
This scholarship is available over three years and offers:
- a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
- at least 12 months of the total period of the program at University of Bayreuth.
For international students, the awardee will also receive:
- single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa
- full tuition fee waiver for up to four years
- travel allowance (approximately $3,000) to support travel between universities.
Research aim
The proposed research will focus on the additive fabrication of fiber-reinforced composites using nonplanar, rotary, and robotic manufacturing approaches. This will allow the co-design of material anisotropy and structural geometry, leading to programmable morphing behaviour that extends beyond the capabilities of existing planar systems.
The research will further investigate the relationship between fiber alignment, deposition strategy, and resulting shape transformation, supported by predictive modelling frameworks that link process parameters to functional performance.
Background
The development of shape-changing materials has emerged as a central theme in next-generation manufacturing, particularly within the domains of 4D printing, soft robotics, and biomedical adaptive structures. Fiber-based architectures, in particular, offer unique opportunities for programmable anisotropy, enabling complex and reversible shape transformations driven by external stimuli. The Ionov Lab at the University of Bayreuth has demonstrated leading expertise in the design and synthesis of such systems, especially through fiber-reinforced and hydromorphic materials capable of controlled actuation. In parallel, the 4D Printing and Robotic Materials Lab at Deakin University has developed advanced capabilities in nonplanar and rotary additive manufacturing, enabling the fabrication of curved, tubular, and thin-walled structures with high geometric fidelity and programmable toolpaths soleiman.
Despite these advances, a critical gap remains in the integration of fiber-based material programmability with nonplanar additive manufacturing. Current fiber-reinforced shape-changing systems are largely restricted to planar fabrication approaches, limiting their geometric complexity and functional scalability. Conversely, nonplanar additive manufacturing enables conformal deposition and spatial control over geometry but has yet to be fully leveraged for fiber-reinforced or stimuli-responsive architectures. This proposal seeks to bridge this gap by establishing a joint PhD project that integrates the complementary strengths of both groups to develop a new class of shape-changing fiber-based structures.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible you must:
- be either a domestic or international candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship
- meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and University of Bayreuth, including H1 or H1 equivalence and English language proficiency criteria
- enrol full time
- be able to physically locate to both University of Bayreuth (Germany) and Deakin University (Australia).
Please refer to the research degree entry requirements page and University of Bayreuth's research entry criteria page for further information.
Ready to apply?
Applicants should contact Dr Ali Zolfagharian to discuss the project and provide evidence of academic transcripts before being invited by Deakin University to lodge a formal application
If successful you will then lodge a separate PhD application to University of Bayreuth via the University of Bayreuth application page.
Research degree entry requirements
Set yourself up for success. Each type of Deakin research degree has specific entry requirements designed to ensure that graduate researchers are well prepared for the challenges of advanced study.
