A microfluidic bioreactor for personalised cancer medicine.

We invite applications for a fully-funded PhD position to design and develop a microfluidic bioreactor for cancer biopsy specimens. Resistance to chemotherapy is the primary cause of therapeutic failure in cancer. Early identification of responders versus non-responders to existing or novel therapies should enable stratification for effective personalised treatment, thereby improving patient survival. The student will engineer a microfluidics system in which tumour biopsy material is kept viable within a microchannel. Maintaining viability of biopsy material in this way will allow testing against new or existing therapies, to identify the most effective treatment for the patient. The project will involve microfluidics design and fabrication, numerical analysis of fluid mechanics and mass transport, 3D printing/rapid prototyping, quantitative biological assessment and microscopy.

Applicants should have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant area of engineering (bioengineering, chemical or mechanical engineering or related discipline) with experience in design and analysis of fluidic systems using differential equations, numerical modelling or related methods, and a strong interest in cancer medicine. We look for highly motivated applicants with excellent
interpersonal, written and oral communication skills and an enthusiasm for exposure to a diversity of scientific projects. The PhD student will be based in the Department of Bioengineering and will be co-supervised by Drs Darryl Overby and Joseph Sherwood (Bioengineering) and Prof. Michael Seckl (Head of Molecular Oncology, Faculty of Medicine) at Imperial College London.

Interested applicants should first send a current CV (with the names of 2 referees) and personal statement to Dr Darryl Overby ([Email Address Removed]) by e-mail. Suitable candidates will be then asked to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London. Their qualifications will then be addressed by College Registry for formal admission.