PhD Studentship: iBIO-Meniscus - Imaging Meniscus Biology for Repair Innovation

3 Year, full-time PhD studentship

Eligibility: Open to home, EU and international students

Bursary p.a.: £20,780

University fees and bench fees: This studentship will cover university fees. Visas and associated costs are not covered.

Closing date: 20th February 2026

Interviews: TBC (online)

Start date:  September 2026 

Project Title: iBIO-Meniscus — Imaging Meniscus Biology for Repair Innovation

Director of Studies: Dr Olga Barrera

Supervisors: Prof Verena Kriechbaumer, Dr Amanpreet Kaur 

Contact: Dr Olga Barrera (obarrera@brookes.ac.uk)

Requirements:

Entry requirements:  

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification. 

English language requirements:

International/EU applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.0 and no score below 5.5 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.

Project Description:

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of load-bearing soft tissues such as the meniscus—with parallels in articular cartilage and intervertebral discs—is organised in multiple layers that sustain compressive loads several times body weight yet remain extremely difficult to repair due to their avascular nature. Because function is encoded in ultrastructure, understanding soft-tissue layer biology is crucial. The meniscus has a sandwich-like architecture: two stiff outer layers provide tensile reinforcement while a compliant porous core dissipates energy through fluid redistribution. Deciphering how living meniscal layers organise, adapt, and maintain hydraulic–mechanical performance is key to enabling effective biological repair and inspiring engineered components such as meniscus-inspired dampers. This PhD applies a Structure ⇄ Biology ⇄ Mechanics framework to establish a bioinspired design pathway where natural tissue architectures directly inform next-generation engineering solutions.

Approach and Methods: The overarching aim is to understand the biology and the inter dependence on mechanical loading of the meniscus layers to advance bio-inspired engineering components. In order to achieve this aim the following three objectives need to be fulfilled, which will form three work packages:

• Ultrastructure of meniscus layers.
• Capturing biology of meniscus layers
• Insight into Layer Function Under Mechanical Loading.

This project builds on strong biomechanics and advanced imaging expertise at Oxford Brookes University, ensuring the methodological rigour required to generate reliable and high-quality data. Structural characterisation will use validated confocal and electron microscopy workflows already established within the Bioimaging Centre and within the Bio Inspired Engineering and Multiphysics lab.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration. 

Application process

Apply directly via the university portal (via the above 'Apply' button). Please include the following in your application:

• A cover letter
• A CV
• Details of two referees, at least one from an academic background
• A research proposal
• Copies of your previous degree certificates and transcripts
• A scan of your passport
• Evidence of a valid IELTS or other valid English language qualification, in line with Oxford Brookes’ requirements (international and EU candidates only) 

For any queries, please contact tde-tdestudentships@brookes.ac.uk

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