EPSRC Industrial CASE PhD Studentship: Biomaterials design for soft tissue adhesion and repair

A studentship in the design of biomaterials for soft tissue bioadhesion and repair is available in the group of Dr J. Gautrot. The research will focus on the design of biomaterials based on hydrogels, for soft tissue engineering. This studentship is in collaboration and funded by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Soft tissue engineering requires biomaterials that can encapsulate cells and harness their phenotype to promote the regeneration of the diseased or damaged tissue. In addition, bioadhesion is an important element as designing a mechanical interface that is robust enough to allow tissues to be repaired whilst preserving the structural and mechanical integrity of the healing tissue is particularly challenging. To do so, understanding the chemistry and biochemistry of such interfaces, and in particular the soft tissue and cells forming it, is essential. The understanding of the molecular basis of tissue adhesion, and how the tissue-biomaterials interface enables the transmission of mechanical forces, will enable the design of biomaterials with improved compatibility and adhesion to soft tissues.

This project will develop novel methods to study such interfaces and novel strategies for the design of biomaterials that allow the control of cell phenotype whilst displaying strong and specific adhesion to surrounding tissues. The successful candidate will develop skills in biomaterials chemistry and biofunctionalization, structural, chemical (NMR, FTIR, Mass Spec, Surface Plasmon Resonance) and mechanical characterisation (indentation, rheology, AFM). This project will be integrated with other projects in our group focusing on tissue engineering and it is anticipated that the student will also develop multidisciplinary skills, in collaboration with bioengineers in our group, to test the adhesive properties of the materials to tissues, the toxicity of the materials and how they alter basic cell biology processes (adhesion, proliferation, tissue stratification). This project will be in close collaboration with GSK and will involve work at and use of GSK facilities.

Our research group has a strong track-record in the field of biomaterials science: their design and synthesis, but also use to interrogate processes occurring at the cell-material interface (see Biomaterials 2010, 2012, Nature Materials 2012, Nature Cell Biology 2010 and Integrative Biology 2013, Nano Letters 2014). The successful candidate will join our multidisciplinary team and build a strong expertise in the fields of biomaterials chemistry, biophysical characterisation of cell/tissue-biomaterials interfaces and bio-engineering.

EPSRC Industrial CASE Research Studentship Details
To be eligible for a full award (stipend and fees) applicants must have:
• settled status in the UK, meaning they have no restrictions on how long they can stay and
• been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for 3 years prior to October 2015. This means they must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or occasional absences) and
• Not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education (This does not apply to UK nationals).
(See: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/ for more details)

• Full Time research degree programme only
• Applicants required to start by September 2015.
• The studentship arrangement will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend (£15,863 in 2014/15) for up to three years.
• The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in Chemistry, Biochemistry or Materials Sciences.

Contact Details:
For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Dr Julien Gautrot ([Email Address Removed])
Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)

Application Method:
To apply for this studentship, please apply for entry on to the Medical Engineering programme (Full Time, Semester 1 start): http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgrcoursefinder/engineering/

Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2015 EPSRC CASE SEMS JEG’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.

Further Guidance is available via: http://www.sems.qmul.ac.uk/research/howtoapply/