Research Fellow-Process Design to Prevent Prosthetic Infections (PREVENTION)

Job Purpose

To contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an EPSRC funded Healthcare Impact Partnership - Process Design to Prevent Prosthetic Infections (PREVENTION).

The overarching aim of this project will be to develop a manufacturing process, incorporating additive layer manufacturing to fabricate patient-specific devices that can be modified with a silver-based antibacterial coating. This process will be used to prevent infection in implants that have a comparatively high likelihood of infection. We also aim to undertake modification of the structure of the implants to reduce imaging aberrations and leave space for the infiltration of a secondary therapeutic phase.

The successful candidate will take a lead on delivering one work package within this project and contribute to two others.

Work Package Lead
1) Refinement of implant design
Computational and empirical optimisation of bespoke implants that seek to minimise infection risks.

Contributor to
2) Process optimisation
Working with the Prosthetics Department at University Hospital Birmingham the candidate will seek to identify stages in current manufacturing processes for cranioplasties that require optimisation in regards to infection risks. Alongside this the candidate will develop a selective laser melting process for the manufacture of cranioplasties that exhibit comparable performance to current designs.

3) Antimicrobial surface modification
The candidate will work closely with an industrial partner to introduce an antimicrobial surface modification to conventional and additively manufactured cranioplasties. In-vitro assessment of efficacy will be conducted and evaluation of antimicrobial resistance.

Further the candidate will be required to work closely with a second Research Fellow, who will jointly deliver a work packages 2 and 3.

Person Specification

• PhD in a relevant discipline and, a strong interest in multidisciplinary science.
• First degree in a physical science or engineering subject
• High level analytical capability and experience of additive layer manufacturing technologies, in particular select laser melting
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to a range of stakeholders, including clinical and industrial partners
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes