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 research conducted within our Institute.
Current job vacancies
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering (DEBRA) - 101377 - Grade 7
Supervisor: Professor Liam Grover
The PDRA appointed to this role will be expected to characterise a lubricating eye-drop, the formulation of which has been defined in a previous research project. It will be expected that the material and its influence on the lubrication of a range of surfaces will be assessed using a tribometer. In addition to this, the PDRA will be expected to characterise and predict the retention of the drop on the ocular surface. All of this work will be undertaken as part of an established team with significant experience of formulation, manufacture and characterisation of ocular lubrication products.
Application deadline: 09/04/2023
Teaching Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 101450 - Grade 7
Supervisor: Professor Liam Grover
This role will be based within the Healthcare Technologies Institute which is part of the School of Chemical Engineering. The Healthcare Technologies Institute brings together leading experts from a variety of disciplines across the University of Birmingham, including chemical engineering, biomedical science, computer science, applied mathematics, chemistry and physics. Researchers across campus are working collaboratively to speed up the translation of new discoveries into health applications.
As a teaching fellow, you will teach and advise undergraduate, postgraduate or CPD students within Chemical Engineering and the Healthcare Technologies Institute, managed by a member of staff with ultimate responsibility for the design, delivery and assessment of the teaching programme.
Application deadline: 12/04/2023
Operations Officer - College of Engineering and Physical Sciences - 101502 - Grade 6
Supervisor: Emma Lardner
The post-holder will work closely with the Operations Manager, Director and staff/students within the Institute to ensure that operational support for the Director and others within the HTI is;
- Professional, well-executed and timely
- Compliant with university and hospital policies
The post-holder will support the Operations Manager in the delivery of effective and efficient day-to-day management and organisation of the HTI which includes administration, secretarial duties, operational management, health & safety compliance and technical management.
Application deadline: 12/04/2023
Business Engagement Officer - School of Chemical Engineering - 101465 - Grade 6
Supervisor: Professor Liam Grover
The Business Engagement Officer will work with the Business Engagement and Partnership Manager to support businesses engaging with a project led from the University of Birmingham that will work with a regional consortium to provide a unique platform for businesses to accelerate the translation of novel innovations through clinical and commercial impact by creating a network of expertise and a integrated programme of initiatives to support companies with their journey. There will be several centrally co-ordinated activities designed to identify requirements for – and tackle barriers to – medical translation.
Application deadline: 17/04/2023
Programme Manager - College of Engineering and Physical Sciences - 101459 - Grade 8
Supervisor: Professor Liam Grover
The Programme Manager will support a complex project led from the University of Birmingham that will work with a regional consortium to provide a unique platform for businesses to accelerate the translation of novel innovations through clinical and commercial impact by creating a network of expertise and a integrated programme of initiatives to support companies with their journey. There will be several centrally co-ordinated activities designed to identify requirements for – and tackle barriers to – medical translation.
Application deadline: 18/04/2023
Research Fellow - School of Chemical Engineering - 101469 - Grade 7
Supervisor: Professor Liam Grover
We have 2x PDRA roles available that will support a complex project led from the University of Birmingham that will work with a regional consortium to provide a unique platform for businesses to accelerate the translation of novel innovations through clinical and commercial impact by creating a network of expertise and a integrated programme of initiatives to support companies with their journey. There will be several centrally co-ordinated activities designed to identify requirements for – and tackle barriers to – medical translation. The post-holders will support the programme in the delivery of scientific services and commercial pathway support to assist companies engaging with the programme. The role will also advise on product design, testing and development, removing barriers for innovative businesses and stratifying product development.
Application deadline: 19/04/2023
Research Fellow - Polymer Chemistry and Bionanotechnology - School of Chemical Engineering - 80209 - Grade 7
Supervisor: Professor Paula Mendes
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.
Application deadline: 21/04/2023
Research Fellow - School of Mathematics - 101537 - Grade 7
Supervisor: Dr Fabian Spill
We are looking to recruit one Research Fellow with a background in mathematical biology, theoretical biophysics, machine learning, bioinformatics or related areas to work on the £1.3M UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project ‘Systems-Mechanobiology of Health and Disease’, led by Dr Fabian Spill, Reader (Associate Professor) in Applied Mathematics and Turing Fellow, Alan Turing Institute.
The goal of this highly collaborative project is to uncover how mechanical forces, cell shape or spatio-temporal organisation of molecules affect cell behaviour in age-related diseases. We will do this through an integrated approach with mathematical modelling and experiments, collaborating with Profs. Chris Bakal (Institute for Cancer Research, London), Michael Mak (Yale), Alicia El Haj (Healthcare Technologies Institute), Emad Moeendarbary (UCL) and industry partners AstraZeneca and MICA Biosystems.
Application deadline: 30/04/2023
PhD studentships
PhD position: Development and optimisation of biomimetic extracellular matrix coatings for tissue integration of smart arteriovenous grafts
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Dr Patricia Perez Esteban
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only), Closing date: 14th July 2023
This interdisciplinary PhD project, conducted in partnership with the University of Southern Denmark, aims to explore how the AV graft can be integrated with surrounding tissue to anchor the graft and prevent defensive physiological reactions. An extracellular matrix-like coating constitutes an optimal substrate for cell/material interaction. Different extracellular matrix compositions can also provide various cues to cells and tissues. To create a fully biological graft/tissue bio-interface, we will use silicone-based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) grafts4,5, coated with an extracellular matrix biomimetic. We will study the integration of epithelial and smooth muscle cells and analyse potential cytotoxic effects in adhering cells including changes in gene expression.
PhD position: MIBTP: Development of a physiologically relevant platform to inform clinical practice and limit antimicrobial resistance in orthopaedic implants
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Dr Sophie Cox, Co-supervisor: Dr Tim Overton
This PhD will develop a physiologically relevant platform to inform orthopaedic clinical practise with the aim of limiting AMR. For this purpose, the experimental plan will be focused in four principal areas:
- Ascertain the effectiveness of antibiotic and antimicrobial mixtures, dosing and regimes on the short term and long-term resistance development of an array of wild and laboratory strains of both gram positive and negative bacteria typically associated with orthopaedic implant infections.
- Unravel the phenotypic and genetic mechanisms behind the observed changes in resistance.
- Modification of an existing bioreactor set up to create a physiologically relevant infection model for both planktonic bacteria and orthopaedic device surfaces.
- Engage with healthcare experts and regulators to optimise current practices.
EPSRC funded PhD: Understanding and improving the topography of additive manufactured implant surfaces
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Dr Sophie Cox
This PhD is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Topological Design at the University of Birmingham. The aims of this project are to study and quantify the formation of surface roughness on selective laser melting components. From this point we may develop or refine post-processing treatments that specifically compliment these roughness features, and explore the interaction of these newly formed surfaces with cells and bacteria.
EPSRC funded PhD: The roles of nanotopography and vibration on controlling long-term bacterial adhesion
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Professor Paula Mendes
This PhD is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Topological Design at the University of Birmingham. This project aims to explore how sub and supracellular vibrational stimuli are perceived and processed by bacteria and if vibration and nanoscale topography can act in synergy to induce superior anti-bacterial properties.
Self Funded PhD: Glycan sensing technology for early and accurate cancer diagnosis
Department of Chemical Engineering, Supervisor: Professor Paula Mendes (The Mendes group)
The project will focus on developing advanced glycan sensing technology for detecting a broad range of glycans with high affinity and specificity 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 a transformative impact on the early detection of different cancers, including prostate cancer
Informal enquiries can be directed to Professor Paula M Mendes via email: p.m.mendes@bham.ac.uk
PhD position: Modelling the control mechanisms underpinning hormone dynamics in humans
(Applications accepted all year round, UK citizens/EU with settled status only)
School of Mathematics, Supervisor: Dr Eder Zavala
The goal of this project is to develop a mathematical understanding of normal endocrine function and its dynamic responses to perturbations, particularly those that elicit a “stress response” (e.g., physical and psychological stressors, inflammation, mistiming of meals, sleep disruptions).
Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr Eder Zavala via email: e.zavala@bham.ac.uk
Outreach opportunities
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 or email Lois at l.j.boyle@bham.ac.uk for more information.
For Work Experience placements, email: hti@contacts.bham.ac.uk