UG Summer Placement 2025 - Northumbria University

Learn more about the thin film deposition facility at Northumbria University here. 

Project Overview

The BioFiT project presents an undergraduate internship opportunity focused on developing advanced thin film coatings for biomedical implant devices. This project is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in creating coatings with key properties such as super hardness, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial resistance—essential for the successful integration of coatings on implants. The intern will work in Northumbria University’s cutting-edge Thin Film Laboratories, utilising physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques, including thermal and sputtering methods, to fabricate, and will also perform characterisation of, deposited  thin films.

The primary objectives of the BioFiT project are twofold. First, the successful applicant will be introduced to health and safety protocols and will assist in developing critical documentation for ongoing projects. This will build their understanding of laboratory safety and improve their efficiency in managing day-to-day lab operations. Secondly, they will gain technical knowledge by exploring the relationship between deposition parameters—such as substrate temperature, deposition pressure, and magnetron power—and the resulting thin film properties. Through hands-on experience with thin film characterisation techniques, the successful applicant will enhance their ability to assess the functional properties of biomedical coatings.

Learning Outcomes

The BioFiT internship will provide the successful applicant with a range of skills and knowledge, crucial for both academic and career development, including:

• Laboratory Management and Safety – including performing routine safety checks, monitoring thin film deposition systems, and maintaining safety and performance records. This will enhance their understanding of laboratory management and health and safety protocols.
• Technical Expertise in Thin Film Deposition – specifically using the NanoPVD S10 sputtering system. They will learn how to control deposition parameters to create super-hard coatings, with practical experience in varying these parameters to achieve desired material properties.
• Research and Documentation Skills – The successful applicant will contribute to the preparation of risk assessments and COSHH documentation, gaining insight into the documentation process for research projects. They will also participate in reviewing non-confidential research and will gain experience in delivering lab inductions, enhancing their understanding of project documentation and compliance.
• Transferable Skills – The successful applicant will develop communication and teamwork skills by liaising with suppliers and collaborating in weekly team meetings. These skills are essential in any professional setting and will enhance the intern’s ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Career Development – By engaging with thin film technology and biomedical applications, the successful applicant will gain industry-relevant skills with broad applications across various sectors. This hands-on experience will strengthen both their theoretical and practical knowledge, preparing them for a career in materials science and biomedical engineering.