Work and study with us
The Healthcare Technologies Institute are striving to advance new technologies and treatments that encourage better tissue healing and rehabilitation tools. We are seeking to recruit interdisciplinary research staff and students of outstanding quality across all areas of Healthcare Technology research conducted within the University of Birmingham.
Current job vacancies
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104577 - Grade 7
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104577 - Grade 7
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104577 - Grade 7
Closing date: 10 October 2024
School of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Professor Alicia El Haj
To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within the Birmingham BRC Next Generation Therapies research programme and/or related research projects.
Role Summary
- Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids, publications and reports.
- Operate within area of specialism
- Analyse and interpret research findings and results, dissemination of findings
- Contribute to generating funding
- Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104443 - Grade 7
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104443 - Grade 7
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104443 - Grade 7
Closing date: 15 October 2024
School of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Professor Paula Mendes
A unique opportunity for a successful applicant to undertake research in the field of polymer chemistry and bionanotechnology for enabling the precise detection of glycans.
Sugar chains, known as glycans, perform a vast array of biological functions and play key roles in various physiological and pathological events. Thus, glycans are a rich source of biomarkers for many diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, hereditary disorders, immune deficiencies, and cancer. However, a major technological bottleneck exists in the development of binding entities that can recognise glycan biomarkers with high specificity and affinity. This hampers major advances in the early and accurate diagnosis of many devastating human illnesses.
The aim of this project is to generate polymeric nanoparticles with the capability to recognise a broad range of glycans with high affinity and specificity. Furthermore, the nanoparticles need to accurately detect glycans in complex biological samples. The project involves an unprecedented combination of principles and methods of polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, synthetic molecular recognition and nanochemistry. The project will have transformative impact towards early detection of different cancers, including prostate cancer: https://prostatecanceruk.org/research/research-we-fund/ria17-st2-020
This is a two-year European Research Council (ERC)-funded project and the Research Fellow will join a productive research group within the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.
Anniversary Chair - University of Birmingham - 102904
Anniversary Chair - University of Birmingham - 102904
Anniversary Chair - University of Birmingham - 102904
Closing date: Our recruitment will remain open until 2025.
In 2025, we will celebrate 125 years of University status by Royal Charter. One of the ways we are celebrating this important milestone is by making a significant investment in our research and appointing 25 new Anniversary Chairs.
As a leader in your field, with a track record of exemplary research, this permanent appointment will offer you sustained and strategic focus on advancing your research.
We’re looking for diverse talent from across the world to help us make new discoveries and tackle global challenges. You will work with the brightest minds at the forefront of different subject areas to tackle the most pressing global challenges, and the opportunity to be mentored and supported by senior leaders at the University and beyond, and to collaborate with our strong networks of partners.
You will be critical in driving the excellence of our research to make an even greater difference to the world around us. Join us as we celebrate our 125th anniversary, and be part of our ambitious, exciting future.
Our inclusive and intellectually challenging education programmes are underpinned by cutting-edge knowledge and taught by leading researchers to encourage independent thinking and develop the next generation of leaders, innovators and problem-solvers. In this role you will contribute to teaching and learning, and management and administration.
Microwave Sensing for Cerebral Perfusion Monitoring in Intensive Care Units (MS-SCAN)
Microwave Sensing for Cerebral Perfusion Monitoring in Intensive Care Units (MS-SCAN)
Microwave Sensing for Cerebral Perfusion Monitoring in Intensive Care Units (MS-SCAN)
Supervisor: Dr Atif Shahzad
Funding & Eligibility: Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Application deadline: Friday, October 18, 2024
The goal of this project is to develop a microwave sensing system that can provide continuous, near real-time images of the brain to help doctors better monitor brain perfusion in critically ill patients. The project will tackle several challenges in the field of medical microwave sensing, contributing to advances in both knowledge and technology. One major challenge is achieving high-resolution while maintaining sufficient depth penetration of electromagnetic waves into the brain. Biological tissues tend to absorb microwave signals, which can weaken the signals and distort the images. Additionally, the complex nature of human tissue can cause the signals to scatter, further degrading image quality. Another challenge is developing fast imaging algorithms that can work on low-cost hardware. Current imaging methods require a lot of computational power, which makes real-time imaging difficult, especially in settings with limited resources.
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104014 - Grade 7
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104014 - Grade 7
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 104014 - Grade 7
Closing date: 15 October 2024
Department: School of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Professor Paula Mendes
A unique opportunity for a successful applicant to undertake research in phage display technology for enabling the discovery of peptides capable of targeting glycans.
Sugar chains, known as glycans, perform a vast array of biological functions and play key roles in various physiological and pathological events. Thus, glycans are a rich source of biomarkers for many diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, hereditary disorders, immune deficiencies, and cancer. However, a major technological bottleneck exists in the development of binding entities that can recognise glycan biomarkers with high specificity and affinity. This hampers major advances in the early and accurate diagnosis of many devastating human illnesses.
The Research Fellow will tackle the technical challenges in the development of innovative solutions to creating a highly effective high throughput selection method for peptide-based glycan binders using phase display technology. It will include incorporation of non-natural amino acids and genetic modification of bacteriophages.
Postgraduate Opportunities
PhD: Smart Switchable Sensors for On-demand Biosensing and Cell Therapy Monitoring
PhD: Smart Switchable Sensors for On-demand Biosensing and Cell Therapy Monitoring
PhD: Smart Switchable Sensors for On-demand Biosensing and Cell Therapy Monitoring
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Professor Paula Mendes (The Mendes group)
Funding & Eligibility: Competition Funded / UK/EU Students
Application deadline: Applications accepted all year round
This interdisciplinary project aims to develop smart switchable biosensors for real-time monitoring of cell-secreted, or bioreactor supplemented, cytokine biomarkers. For the first time, we aim to combine this novel switchable technology with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS), enabling on-demand electrochemical biosensing on-chip. Conceptually different from traditional biosensors where the surface immobilised recognition elements act as passive receptors, we introduce nature inspired surfaces with the unique ability to actively manipulate single-domain antibodies ie. nanobodies, conferring antigen-nanobody binding control.
Informal enquiries can be directed to Professor Paula M Mendes.
PhD: Sustainable processes – reducing single use plastics in healthcare
PhD: Sustainable processes – reducing single use plastics in healthcare
PhD: Sustainable processes – reducing single use plastics in healthcare
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Dr Anita Ghag
Funding & Eligibility: Competition Funded / UK/EU Students
Application deadline: Applications accepted all year round
This multidimensional project aims to look at the impact of sterilisation on medical plastic waste and work with a larger project team to develop technologies and processes which could eliminate single use plastics, and instead allow them to be used multiple times, not only reducing cost to the NHS but also reducing the environmental burden of plastic waste.
We are seeking a passionate PhD candidate to contribute to a highly translational project focused on assessing the impact of sterilisation on the usability of medical plastic waste and in turn looking at ways in which it could be assessed within healthcare settings. This project is part of a larger national project which aims to revolutionise the way in which medical plastic waste is handled in the future.
Development of Biocompatible 3D-Printed Artificial Blood Vessels
Development of Biocompatible 3D-Printed Artificial Blood Vessels
PhD: Development of Biocompatible 3D-Printed Artificial Blood Vessels through Multidimensional Approaches
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Dr Anita Ghag
Funding & Eligibility: Competition Funded / UK/EU Students
Application deadline: Applications accepted all year round
We are seeking a passionate PhD candidate to contribute to a highly translational project focused on the development of biocompatible artificial blood vessels using advanced 3D printing technologies. This multidimensional research initiative aims to bridge the gap between synthetic materials and living tissues, creating new possibilities for patient-specific vascular grafts.
Biomedical Innovation MSc/Diploma/Certificate (1 year, full-time)
Biomedical Innovation MSc/Diploma/Certificate (1 year, full-time)
Biomedical Innovation MSc/Diploma/Certificate (1 year, full-time)
Application deadline: The deadline for international students (including EU) to apply is 7 May 2024. The deadline for UK students is 30 August 2024.
Delivered by the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB), the MSc Biomedical Innovation programme brings together talented students from a variety of backgrounds to focus on innovating new technologies that advance human health. Embedded within an exciting ecosystem spanning academia, hospitals and medical technology (MedTech) industry, we develop innovators and entrepreneurs who have a real impact on society.
Building on key strengths in data science, engineering, healthcare technologies, mathematical modelling and medicine, training is provided to students in identifying unmet medical needs, inventing new solutions and implementing them in healthcare environments. This programme is designed to enable participants to understand the needs of the healthcare sector and play an active role in the innovation of new health technologies to address these needs. Students develop the necessary skillset and benefit from training and mentorship to enable the innovation and adoption of new intelligent solutions. The programme is ideally suited for prospective careers in the MedTech and biotechnology sectors, healthcare, and business innovation for individuals with undergraduate experience in engineering and physical sciences, biomedical and clinical sciences and/or business and management.
Visit the Chemical Engineering PhD/Doctoral research degrees page for more opportunities.
Outreach opportunities
Get in touch
Get in touch
The School of Chemical Engineering is dedicated to raising awareness of chemical engineering amongst young people by working closely with schools, colleges, teachers and career advisors.
Visit the Chemical Engineering outreach page for more information.
For Work Experience placements, email: hti@contacts.bham.ac.uk.