Investigating new biocompatible polymers as biomaterials

A fully funded PhD studentship (UK tuition fees) is available in the group of Dr Arno at the University of Birmingham (group website: https://arnolab.com) in areas of polymer chemistry with an emphasis on the development of a new range of polymers for application as biomaterials. The project will focus on the design of new polymers that can be used to build polymer scaffolds or biological coatings. The project will involve research in some of the key areas that the group are interested:

- Development of polymers that can undergo post polymerisation modifications

- Understanding the key factors underlying polymer-cell interactions

- Investigating potential applications of the materials prepared through this route.

The project can be flexibly adapted towards the student’s interests and presents elements of fundamental research as well as a clear focus on an applied goal. Together with polymer synthesis, the project has a strong biological focus and will involve elements of mammalian cell culture for which appropriate training will be provided. The work will be mainly conducted in the School of Chemistry in the Haworth Building in Edgbaston with full access to the state-of-the-art facilities of the department. The group will move to the new multidisciplinary Molecular Sciences Building in 2024 (Edgbaston).

Training: This project offers the opportunity to receive a unique multidisciplinary training in a variety of techniques, spanning the fields of polymer synthesis, polymer functionalisation, and biology. The student will receive in-depth training in a wide range of standard and advanced synthetic polymer chemistry techniques and mammalian cell culture. The student will also receive training in a diverse array of analytical techniques including NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, and confocal microscopy.

Informal enquiries can be sent directly to Dr Arno ([Email Address Removed]) and should include a CV.