PhD Studentship: Understanding the Bacterial Biofilms Response Mechanisms on Advanced Anti-Bacteria

A PhD Studentship is available for a suitably qualified candidate to conduct research leading to the award of a PhD degree in the field of Chemical Engineering.

The research is of an interdisciplinary nature and lies at the interface of biochemical engineering, nanotechnology, mathematical modelling and molecular microbiology and will explore development and implementation of advanced nano and micro-surfaces for antibacterial applications. Microbial attack on surfaces costs the UK billions of pounds each year in product contamination, energy losses, infections and equipment damage. Creating antimicrobial surfaces and understanding the mechanisms of the bacterial response to these is the key in preventing infections and helping to curtail the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.

The project will focus on aspects of designing and engineering a variety of advanced miniaturised surfaces as well as investigating and understanding the mechanisms of the bacterial response via development of scalable manufacturing processes, using biochemical engineering and modeling approaches, for a broad range of industrial biotechnological applications including, reduction of product contamination and energy loss while undertaking optimization of miniaturized bioreactors for anti-microbial resistance understanding.

During the project nanostructured surfaces, which can be used to control biofilm development, will be investigated either, negatively (by preventing biofilms from being formed) or positively (by enhancing biofilm formation). By combining structured surfaces with antibacterial coatings the level of resistance to bacterial colonisation is hypothesized to be high enough that the bacterial resistance selected by antimicrobials should not occur.

The candidate should be qualified to at least first degree level with an upper second or first class honours degree (high 2:1) in an appropriate branch of Engineering (e.g. Materials, Chemical), Exact Science (e.g. Bioscience, Physics, Chemistry) or related fields.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the ’Apply’ button below. Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae, Cover Letter and a List of Referees with your application. Dr P. G. Oppenheimer: GoldberP@bham.ac.uk and Dr T. Overton: T.W.Overton@bham.ac.uk would also welcome informal enquiries. The successful applicant will be required subsequently to submit a standard application to the University.

Funding Notes

The studentship is funded, covering maintenance, University tuition fees (UK/EU Only), and continuation of funding is subject to annual performance review. Part of the BBSRC-funded Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP). Collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Leicester, the scheme provides PhD training over four years. Students spend the first year in a skills training programme (3 months); a professional internship (3 months); and two mini-projects (3 months each), one of which must be at Warwick or Leicester. The PhD project runs from years 2-4. Details of the programme including stipend rates and eligibility are available here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/.