PhD Studentship - New Polymer Biomaterials to Expand and Deliver Cells with Animal-Free Technologies

Application deadline: All year round

Research theme: Biotechnology, Cell Growth, Polymers, Biomaterials

This 3.5 year PhD project is fully funded for home students; the tax free annual stipend is set at the UKVI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25).

This PhD will seek to discover new polymeric biomaterials which can modulate stem-cell function, and aid in their delivery to either patients, or as cell factories. This will include the use of induced pluripotent stem cells, which can be obtained from non-stem cell populations. The project will involve synthetic polymer chemistry and cell culture.

The GibsonGroup has world-class facilities based in both the Department of Chemistry (where this role is primarily based) and also in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB). The Chemistry laboratories are brand new (2023) featuring dedicated write up space, fume hoods, and analytical equipment including UV-Vis, FTIR (and in 2024) NMR spectrometers, microscopes and liquid handling systems. For polymer analysis we have a multidetector SEC suite, as well as the departments core NMR and Mass Spec facilities. We access the UKs National Materials Institute, the Royce, which is in an adjacent building. In the MIB we have dedicated tissue culture and microbiology laboratories and a bioanalytical suite including biolayer interferometry, flow cytometry, high-content live cell microscopy and (in 2024) confocal microscopy. From 2025 the team will host a UK unique automated glycan synthesis platform.

The GibsonGroup is a positive research environment, and the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the groups research culture, focussed on team work.

For more information 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.

Please contact the supervisor, Prof Matthew Gibson (matt.gibson@manchester.ac.uk) before you apply. Please include 2 page (max) CV in your email, including grades, details of subjects studied and research projects undertaken.

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