Dr A Rayat
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Aim:
The overall aim of the project is to establish modelling of pleated membrane filters for guard filtration. The project will use the ultra scale-down approach for the evaluation of linked processes of guard filtration with column chromatography, focusing on their impact on column fouling and resin re-use.
Significance: Ultra scale-down filtration has been established at UCL and is an innovative approach to early manufacturing development, which enables high throughput studies, using only millilitre quantities of material to yield industrially relevant data. Currently used for bioburden reduction, sterilisation or as guard filters prior to column chromatography, pleated membranes are integral part components in biomanufacturing. The membranes could be single- or double-layer filters with pre-filters (0.35, 0.45 or 0.8 μm) and with final filters (e.g. 0.2 μm). Pleated membrane devices of various sizes may not necessarily have the same filtration performance. Additionally, flat-sheet membrane filters, common in laboratories, do not directly mimic pleated membrane filtration. Assessing pleated membrane devices and the establishment of appropriate scale-down mimics and methodology would be an important part of process development to screen membranes, assess performance with particular type of feedstocks and define scale-up conditions.
The proposed project builds on the know-how developed at UCL on establishing individual scale-down models for USD membrane filtration on a robotic platform. Specifically, we will look at applying the methodology on industrial feed streams through the project’s collaboration with UCB, a pharmaceutical company specialising in neurology and immunology.
Candidate Profile:
This four-year, fully funded EngD project will suit a candidate with a background in Biochemical Engineering or a related discipline e.g. Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology. The candidate should have good quantitative and experimental skills with an interest in bioseparations (downstream processing). They should also be prepared to learn laboratory automation, statistical and process modelling. The successful candidate will be aligned to the UCL/EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) In Bioprocess Engineering undertaking the introductory Research Skills module and having access to UCL MBI Programme modules. The selected researcher will benefit from use of facilities at UCL (London) and UCB (Slough).
The start date is 24 September 2018. Please note that only students with UK/ EU tuition fee status are eligible (see Funding Notes).
How to apply:
Please send your CV (2 pages max) and personal statement (1 page max) to: [Email Address Removed]. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Funding Notes
In line with EPSRC eligibility criteria, only UK/EU citizens who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the 3 years immediately preceding the start of Studentship, and have no restrictions on how long they can remain in the UK, are eligible for a full award (tuition fees and tax-free stipend for the duration of the four-year programme). EU Citizens who have not been residing in the UK for the past 3 years may be eligible for a fees-only award.
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