Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship (3 years) within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the Velcro Companies. The student will work with an interdisciplinary supervisory team from different Faculties with expertise in 3D printing, drug and actives delivery and functional materials.
We seek to use 3D printing to create novel multimaterial functional structures capable of the controlled delivering active compounds, including drugs and agrochemicals. We will use triggerable polymeric materials capable of diverse functionality, that when 3D printed offer spatially and temporally varying functionality throughout the device. We will explore the use of state of the art 3D printing, including ink jet printing, stereolithography and two photon polymerisation, augmented to allow multimaterial deposition. This will be coupled to advanced design protocols to create highly specified and orthogonal functionality that can be controlled either via in vivo or environmental conditions or through an applied trigger.
In this project, we will design and manufacture complex 3D printable structures, with diverse actives (including drugs and agrochemicals) suitable for time dependent release. We will explore a range of suitable materials, with a focus on the use and development of sustainable feedstocks, seeking printable materials with a high capacity for drug and/or agrochemical actives, and good bio and enviro-compatibility. 3D printing processes will be explored and optimised in order to allow printing of mechanically stable structures.
The ideal candidate will have knowledge in 3D printing, chemistry, materials science, materials engineering or related subjects and be interested in 3D printing, manufacturing and deliver of actives to either the body or the field. The studentship is an exciting research collaboration between supervisors based within the Centre for Additive Manufacturing (www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/cfam ), the School of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry and the School of Life Sciences. The student will have access to equipment and expertise at the forefront of the 3D printing and of drug/active delivery research areas.
Eligibility
- Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK candidates
- Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first class degree in an Engineering or Physical Sciences related discipline.
- Candidates will be available to start on 1st October 2022.
How to apply
Please send a copy of your covering letter, CV and academic transcripts to [email protected] referring to the project title.
Closing date: applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is appointed.