PhD Studentship - New Degradable Polymers for Biotechnology

The University of Manchester • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • 6d ago

Application deadline: All year round

How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-fap

Extremophiles have evolved to survive in the world’s coldest environments, through the production of specialised macromolecules, such as antifreeze proteins and ‘ice nucleating proteins. For real world applications, these proteins are often not suitable for reasons including their scalable synthesis, price of production and potential immunogenicity/toxicity. The GibsonGroup have pioneered the development of Macromolecular Cryoprotectants: polymers which can modulate the formation and growth of ice. (Review article: Nature Communications, 2017, 8, 1546)

We use these to cryopreserve advanced medicines (such as antibodies), cells/tissue (such as blood or stem cells) and biotechnology (animal-free toxicity testing), and other fields where ice is a problem, from frozen food to transport infrastructure. (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2023, 15, 2630, Biomacromolecules, 2022, 23, 2, 467)

This PhD will be focussed on developing fully degradable polymeric cryoprotectants. These materials are needed not just for in vivo use (in humans), but also for environmental applications: in both cases the degradation products must be safe. We also aim to make these sustainable, using bio-derived feedstocks. The successful candidate will primarily undertake synthesis, but will also have the chance to learn cryo-biology/microscopy methods to validate the produced materials.

The GibsonGroup is based in brand new laboratories in the Department of Chemistry, and the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. The group has dedicated facilities for organic/polymer synthesis, as well as cell culture, microbiology and advanced imaging (confocal microscopy), allowing a truly multidisciplinary approach to tackle globally important problems.

Read more here https://gibsongroupresearch.com

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Competitive

Related Jobs

Teacher in ITE & Education (0.8 FTE)

Tameside College • Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom • £31.73k - £43.74k / year • 14h ago

Academic (Research, Teaching and Post Doc)

14h ago

Apply

Lecturer in Film Production and Post-Production

The University of Bolton • Bolton, England, United Kingdom • £40.52k - £46.97k / year • 5d ago

Academic (Research, Teaching and Post Doc)

5d ago

Apply

Lecturer in Multiskills

Bury College • Bury, England, United Kingdom • £33.21k - £39.33k / year • 3w ago

Academic (Research, Teaching and Post Doc)

3w ago

Apply

NXCT Events and Communications Officer

The University of Manchester • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • £37.17k - £45.41k / year • 1d ago

Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions

1d ago

Apply

PhD in Organic Synthesis in collaboration with AstraZeneca

The University of Manchester • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • £20.78k / year • 5d ago

PhD

5d ago

Apply

Administrator Assistance

The University of Bolton • Bolton, England, United Kingdom • £22.62k - £24.25k / year • 5d ago

Other Professional Services (Careers, Alumni, HR, Finance, Estates, Library, Sports)

5d ago

Apply

PhD Studentship - Julia Sets of Hyperbolic Meromorphic Functions

The University of Manchester • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • 5d ago

PhD

5d ago

Apply

Business Analyst

Manchester Metropolitan University • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • 1w ago

Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions

1w ago

Apply

PhD Studentship - Development of New Generation Corrosion-resistant Aluminium Alloys

The University of Manchester • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • £20.78k / year • 1w ago

PhD

1w ago

Apply

PhD Studentship: Investigating (Bio)geochemical Trapping of CO2 on Geological Timescales

The University of Manchester • Manchester, England, United Kingdom • £20.78k / year • 1w ago

PhD

1w ago

Apply