Industrially Funded PhD Studentship in Pharmaceutical Materials Science and NMR: Solid-State NMR of Amorphous Spray Dried Dispersions

Supervisor: Dr. Frédéric Blanc, in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals.

Applications are invited for a graduate to join the Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, UK for an EPSRC- and Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals-funded 4-years PhD studentship.

Amorphous spray dried dispersions (SDDs) are a key enabling technology employed by the pharmaceutical industry to improve dissolution rate and therefore bioavailability of poorly soluble Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). By formulating the drug in the amorphous state in combination with a polymer, the favourable dissolution profile of the amorphous form is retained, whilst the physical stability is improved through inhibition of crystallization. A PhD studentship is available in the development of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) towards the understanding of the structure and dynamics of nucleation and recrystallization of drug within SDD systems (J. Pharm. Sci. 2009, 3456).

The successful applicant will join a new research programme in a collaborative, international and multi-disciplinary research team that will provide complete student training, skills and development, ensuring strong employability. The project gives the student the opportunity to develop skills in pharmaceutical sciences and NMR to lead better understanding of SDDs processes. The student will have access to the extensive facilities in the Department of Chemistry and have placement opportunity at Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals (based close to Liverpool), and will be able to travel and visit other research facilities.

Further information about research in the Blanc group is available at http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~fblanc/WebsiteLiverpool/Home.html and of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals at https://www.bms.com/
Funding and requirements
The award is available to UK and EU students only and will pay full tuition fees and a maintenance grant for 4 years (£14,553 for 2017/2018 with annual increase).

The successful applicant should have at least a 2:1 Master or BSc degree in the UK, or equivalent qualification, in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a closely related subject. Project experience in pharmaceuticals and/or NMR spectroscopy would be an advantage, but is not a prerequisite.

Applications should include a cover letter including the applicant motivation in this PhD studentship, a full CV, and the contact details of two academic referees and should be sent by email to Dr. Frédéric Blanc ([Email Address Removed]) before 4th July 2017 indicating “University of Liverpool Bristol-Myers Squibb PhD studentship” in the subject line.

The position is available from 21st September 2017.