PhD Studentship: Bubbles for Breaking Biofilms

Supervisory Team: Nicholas Evans, Jeremy Webb, Janos Kanczler, Eleanor Stride, Dario Carugo (University of Oxford)

PhD Supervisor: Nicholas Evans

Project description:

Bone disease has a cost to the UK economy of £5 billion/year. Surgeons attempt to repair bones and joints by conducting invasive surgery, including for example the implantation of prosthetics. This surgery is revolutionary for many but in a surprisingly high number of cases persistent and problematic complications prevent healing.

One of the main such complications is tissue infection. Infections may occur as a result of introduction of bacteria or other microorganisms into the body during the time a traumatic injury or surgery. These infections, which often involve the formation of biofilms, can be persistent and take many months of antibiotic delivery to resolve due to poor penetrance of antibiotics to the site of infection.

In this PhD, we propose to use ultrasound-responsive microbubbles as a means of antibiotic delivery in bone biofilms. When microbubbles are exposed to ultrasound they expand and contract energetically. This can exert significant forces on things around them, and is being exploited at the moment in clinical trials. Our idea is that this idea might be exploited to help disrupt biofilms that form on or around bones, and to enable better antibiotic penetration to treat bone infections.

You will work in an exciting multidisciplinary team at the University of Southampton with experts in bone repair and drug delivery, ultrasound technology and biofilm microbiology. You will also work closely with NHS consultant orthopaedic surgeons and microbiologists as the technology may be close to clinical application.

Funding for this project is offered by the Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence & Security (CISDnS), which will recruit motivated and inquisitive candidates across the themes of Digital, Physical and Biological systems to provide a diverse and interconnected cohort training environment. As well as carrying out research training in a world-leading research group, membership of CISDnS will provide the opportunity for you to be exposed and trained to handle the interdisciplinary challenges faced in the real-world via a Systems Thinking approach. You will learn about the wider challenges of research and innovation within the Defence & Security sector from both your peers and the numerous industry partners supporting the Centre.

This PhD studentship is open only to UK applicants.

We welcome applicants onto the CDT from underrepresented groups.

Entry Requirements

A good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 30 August 2024. 

Funding: Full-time studentships will cover UK course fees and an enhanced tax-free stipend of approx. £23,500 per year for 4 years along with a substantial budget for research, travel, and centre activities. A number of studentships are available and will be awarded on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How To Apply

Apply onlineby clicking the 'Apply' button, above.

Select programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “Integrated PhD in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security (2024-25)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Nicholas Evans

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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