EROGStudentship: Advanced 3D-Printing of Responsive Biomaterial Devices

Overview

Area: Mechanical Materials & Manuf Eng
Location: UK Other
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
Reference: ENG
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PhD Project: Advanced 3D-Printing of Responsive Biomaterial Devices

Applications are invited for a PhD project within the University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering, in the Centre for Additive Manufacturing research group (CfAM). The student will work in world-class laboratory facilities in the CfAM engaging with interdisciplinary team with expertise in 3D printing, biotechnology, physics, and materials science.

Responsive 3D-printed functional devices interact with their environment, responding to stimuli (temperature, light, etc.), and “4D-printed” devices respond over time (e.g. changing shape, releasing medicines), controlled by the arrangement of the various dissimilar materials within them. The goal of this project will be to develop responsive 4D-printed biomaterial devices for advanced personalised drug delivery. The student will formulate new 3D-printable materials and develop new design methods, for functional 4D-printed devices with either fast self-resetting responses or complex multi-scale shape changes, applicable to biomedical, micromechanical, or optoelectronic applications.

This studentship will take place in world-leading research laboratories for additive manufacturing (CfAM) and advanced bio-printing (Additive Bio Fabrication Laboratory) and will provide experience with new and advanced 3D-printing equipment not available elsewhere. This project is aligned with the “Dialling up Performance for on Demand Manufacturing” Programme Grant, which will place the student within an active and supportive team of 9 other PhD students, 15 postdoctoral researchers, 18 world-leading academics from 5 universities, and 11 industry leaders in pharmaceutical manufacturing and additive manufacturing.

Candidates should have a background in one of: engineering, materials science, chemistry, and be willing to learn new disciplines and innovate to achieve the project goals. Additionally, ideal candidates would also have interests in areas such as: 3D printing, materials sciences or programming, and have an inquisitive spirit motivated to develop a world-leading expertise. This studentship will prepare you for routes into both industry and academia, and will equip you with skills in materials science, 3D printing, biotechnology, and engineering.

• This call is open to UK-Home students and to International students.
• Project start date and duration:
  Start October 2026, for 42 months.
• Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first-class degree in physical sciences disciplines (Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, etc).
• To apply:
  
  send covering letter, CV and academic transcripts by email to Geof Applications without academic transcripts will not be considered. Please refer to the project title in your application. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is appointed.
• After a suitable candidate is found, funding is then sought from the University of Nottingham as part of a competitive process (this will cover home tuition fees and UKRI stipend).