PhD studentships in the University of Nottingham / EPSRC Thematic doctoral training programme in Astropharmacy: Space Biology and Space Engineering

Reference

ENG1573

Closing Date

Wednesday, 31st August 2022

Department

Engineering

PhD studentships in the University of Nottingham / EPSRC Thematic doctoral training programme in Astropharmacy: Space Biology and Space Engineering

Supervisor:Prof Phil Williams (School of Pharmacy) and Dr Chantal Cappelletti (Faculty of Engineering)

Subject areas: Biology, Computer Science, CubeSats, Engineering, Pharmacy, Space Science, Space Systems, Biotechnology, Aerospace, Control Systems, Electronic engineering, Biotechnology, Chemistry

Duration: 4 years 

Specific project outlines

You will join the team of postgraduate researchers who have recently been selected to participate in the European Space Agency’s Orbit Your Thesis! programme . Orbit Your Thesis! is an educational programme offered by ESA Academy for students to operate their self-developed experiment in the International Space Station. Aboard the station, the payload is integrated in the ICE Cubes Facilities operated by Space Applications Services situated in the Columbus module. After flight, the experiment will be returned for further analysis on-ground.

You will join the team of researchers and will contribute to the development of the molecular science of the on-demand expression of protein-based therapeutics (including cell-based and cell-free), the pharmaceutical science of the on-site manufacture of medicines (such as additive manufacturing), or the computational, electronic and systems engineering design, construction and development of space-flight systems for such on-site, on-demand manufacture.

Eligibility

Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for home/UK candidates.

Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first class degree in an Engineering, Natural (including Pharmaceutical), or Physical Sciences related discipline.

Project outline

Applications are invited for fully-funded PhD studentships (4 years) within the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. The students will work within interdisciplinary supervisory teams in the collaborative science and engineering in the design, construction, development and testing of on-site, on-demand manufacture of pharmaceuticals in a space environment, including on CubeSat platforms.

How will we travel to, colonize, and sustain healthy life on Mars? At a time when the world’s space agencies have formed the Global Exploration Roadmap for the long-term human habitation of the planet, this doctoral training programme is focused on addressing this grand challenge. Findings will also be applicable for more classical terrestrial applications on earth.

This goal cannot be achieved within one research group or within one discipline and requires a fundamentally new approach to scientific research, bridging global research groups and scientific disciplines.   We do this from the viewpoint of, and using our expertise in, engineering, computer science, biology, medicine, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical manufacturing & formulation, and sustainability.

How to apply

Apply online now

Please upload a CV, a one page cover letter detailing relevant research experience and the contact details of two referees.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this opportunity before applying, please email Prof Phil Williams (Pharmacy/Science), or email Dr Cantal Cappelletti (Engineering).

Application deadline: 31 August 2022