Ref: SG101013
Applications are invited for a fully-funded PhD studentship within the Healthcare Engineering Group of the Wolfson School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University. You will be based in the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine and work to solve pure and applied problems in engineering science in order to develop integrated healthcare detection platforms. This is a well-resourced centre with rich academic and industrial experience and provides a unique opportunity for doing leading research in healthcare engineering. The interdisciplinary research may involve development and application of novel electromechanical and optical sensing techniques, microfabrication and microfluidics, as well as biochemical and biomolecular processing.
Rapid, point-of-care or online sensing is of great importance in wide application areas with high socio-economic impact. These include clinical diagnostics of infectious and chronic diseases, food and environmental quality monitoring, bio-security and pharmaceutical manufacturing. There is an increasing demand for a paradigm change in the quality of sensor performance in these fields while ensuring regulatory compliance. This requires the addressing of fundamental and translational challenges in engineering science. This PhD programme broadly aims to address these challenges by the application of mechanical, electrical and bioengineering principles. The scope of the programme includes working on a promising platform technology being developed in the Group as well as the development of novel detection principles and technologies via other projects. These projects will allow the opportunity for both fundamental and translational research and for working with leading international experts in the field from academia and industry. Existing projects aim at development of first of class, rapid, integrated platforms for point-of-care or onsite detection of infectious agents for human and farm animals. The experience from this PhD programme will help you develop into an expert in the field of healthcare and medical technologies.
You would have a first degree (1st class or high 2:1 honours or equivalent) in or related to one of the following disciplines: physics, instrumentation, engineering physics, mechanical engineering, electrical or electronics engineering, or bioengineering, with a strong interest to work in biomedical and biological applications. Good communication skills are essential and experience in experimental research at a postgraduate level is desirable. Hands on experience with biomolecular or biochemical processing will be an advantage.
The position is to be filled no later than the 1st January 2014. The three-year studentship is expected to have a stipend of £13,726 per annum tax free for UK/EU candidates with full tuition fees paid but for overseas candidates due to funding restrictions an allowance of £10,554 towards fees only. Both home and overseas candidates are encouraged to apply.
Please apply through the Apply link below. Applicants seeking additional information are invited to contact Sourav Ghosh (e-mail S.Ghosh2@lboro.ac.uk).
Please quote the reference SG101013 on all correspondence and especially on the application form.
The closing date for applications for this post is 15th November 2013.