Funding

Self-funded

Project code

PHBM4721019

Department

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Start dates

February and October

Application deadline

Open all year round

This is a self-funded, 3 year full-time or 6 year part-time PhD studentship. This project is supervised by Dr Eugen Barbu.

Finely dispersed particulate systems play an important role in pharmacy and medicine. Their design, manipulation and usage require an approach that brings together fundamental concepts from chemistry, materials science, engineering, pharmacy, biology, medicine and nanotechnology.

This project will develop novel core-shell nanoparticulate systems that will be investigated for potential use in chemotherapy and biomedical imaging. You'll prepare and characterise nanoconstructs based on natural and/or synthetic polymers in combination with inorganic components (such as gold or super-paramagnetic metal oxides).

You'll also explore the biological interactions of these nanoconstructs with animal/human cells in vitro, and feed the results back into the design process.

This project is suitable for self-funded applicants with a very good degree in material/pharmaceutical sciences, bioengineering, chemistry or pharmacy and a keen interest in nanomaterials and their pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

The work will include:

  • training in synthetic chemistry, material characterisation and analytical techniques (such as FTIR/NIR, Raman, NMR spectroscopy; HPLC, SEC, GC-MS), thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), nanoparticle formulation and characterisation (DLS, NTA), microscopy (fluorescence, AFM/SEM), tissue culture, live cell imaging and flow cytometry
  • collaborating with many different departments across the university, including Biological Sciences, Physics and Engineering.
  • access to a skills development program run by our Graduate School

This project will be carried out within the Advanced Materials for Diagnosis and Therapy (AMDT) Research Group as part of the Institute of Life Sciences and Healthcare (ILSH).

The experimental and analytical skills you develop during these studies will prepare you for further work in either academia or industry.

Funding

Visit the research subject area page for fees and funding information for this project.

Self-funded PhD students only. PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan.

Please note: all students must also pay additional bench fees of £9,000 p/a.

Entry Requirements

  • A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or a master’s degree in an appropriate subject.
  • Exceptionally, equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will be considered. All applicants are subject to interview.
  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

When you are ready to apply, please follow the 'Apply now' link on the Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences PhD subject area page and select the link for the relevant intake. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.