PhD Studentship - New Degradable Polymers for Biotechnology

Application deadline: All year round

How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-fap

Extremophiles have evolved to survive in the world’s coldest environments, through the production of specialised macromolecules, such as antifreeze proteins and ‘ice nucleating proteins. For real world applications, these proteins are often not suitable for reasons including their scalable synthesis, price of production and potential immunogenicity/toxicity. The GibsonGroup have pioneered the development of Macromolecular Cryoprotectants: polymers which can modulate the formation and growth of ice. (Review article: Nature Communications, 2017, 8, 1546)

We use these to cryopreserve advanced medicines (such as antibodies), cells/tissue (such as blood or stem cells) and biotechnology (animal-free toxicity testing), and other fields where ice is a problem, from frozen food to transport infrastructure. (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2023, 15, 2630, Biomacromolecules, 2022, 23, 2, 467)

This PhD will be focussed on developing fully degradable polymeric cryoprotectants. These materials are needed not just for in vivo use (in humans), but also for environmental applications: in both cases the degradation products must be safe. We also aim to make these sustainable, using bio-derived feedstocks. The successful candidate will primarily undertake synthesis, but will also have the chance to learn cryo-biology/microscopy methods to validate the produced materials.

The GibsonGroup is based in brand new laboratories in the Department of Chemistry, and the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. The group has dedicated facilities for organic/polymer synthesis, as well as cell culture, microbiology and advanced imaging (confocal microscopy), allowing a truly multidisciplinary approach to tackle globally important problems.

Read more here https://gibsongroupresearch.com

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

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