Despite being the units of life, cells are often difficult to decode and manipulate given their intrinsic complexity. Bottom-up synthetic biology aims at constructing artificial cells by combining synthetic, natural or hybrid molecular building blocks into compartmentalised units. This reductionist approach enables the study and mimic of biological processes in a simplified setting and offers the opportunity of producing smart cell-like agents for diagnostics, therapeutics and bioremediation. Among all the cellular processes and mechanisms, mimicking biological locomotion in artificial self-propelling cells in physiological environments is still an open challenge. Setting inanimate matter in motion provides crucial insights for the realisation of artificial life. Creating an artificial cell capable of autonomous and directional motion in physiological environments will provide fundamental insight into biological systems and the process of autonomous motion at the cell scale level and allow the translation their capabilities in biotechnological applications such as drug delivery, biosensing, and smart materials.
In this project, we aim to take inspiration from nature and will use a bottom-up synthetic biology approach to create 100% controllable artificial bio-inspired motile cell-like systems capable of transforming a chemical stimulus from the environment into mechanical motion.
Funding
This studentship is fully funded and includes a 3 year stipend (set at £19,668 for 2022/23) and Home tuition Fees.
Eligibility
- Available to applicants with UK Home Fee Status and international applicants if willing to make up the difference in fees between home and international rates. (See: http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/feestatus/ for details of UK Home status)
- The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
- If English is not your first language, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).
- Candidates are expected to start from September 2023
Supervisor Contact Details
For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Claudia Contini
Application Method:
To apply for this studentship and for entry on to the PhD Full-time Chemical Engineering- Semester 1 (September Start), please select the following type of research degree programme at https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/engineering.html
Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2023 SEMS CCONTINI’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.
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