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PhD Studentship

Electrifying Cells! Exploring the role of bioelectronic stimulation and bioelectric signalling, with a focus on influencing stem cell behaviour

Overview

Electrical stimulation of cells and tissues has been observed to help with healing processes, for example in bone regeneration. Within the NHS, some fracture clinics use electrical stimulation as a to promote healing, often when other methods fail. At the cellular length scale, stimulating cell cultures with electrical signals appears to help promote osteogenesis. In both cases, the data is complicated and effects are nuanced – there’s more to learn…

The challenge

There’s a gap in understanding between the tissue-scale interventions and simple single-cell cultures, not helped by the challenge of bringing together different areas of expertise from different disciplines, in order to design and conduct experiments to uncover subtle effects.

Engineering efforts to stimulate cells might not take into account the complexity of stimuli that influence cell behaviour (not just the electrical, but mechanical and chemical environment, for example). Biological efforts might rely on overly simple methods for electrical stimulation that lack the resolution required to uncover subtle behaviours.

The opportunity

To apply biolectronic devices with high spatial-temporal resolution to the study and interrogation of fundamental processes at the cellular scale. In particular, investigating how subtle, localised changes the voltage or ionic environment impact osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Then, using high-content image-based analysis techniques to uncover subtle effects, mapped against these stimuli.

How

You will be using existing and new bioelectronic and biofabrication tools available within the Complex Interface Team and applying them to a variety of cell culture-based experiments. This will involve investigating how these tools should be adapted to best influence osteogenesis, using a toolbox of bioelectronic, biochemical, and biomechanical stimuli.

You will work closely with engineers to help influence the design of these interfaces, to ensure they are well-tailored to investigating osteogenic processes. During this you’ll be exposed to a wide-range of bioengineering techniques and approaches, and develop your understanding of bioelectronics and the broader design of biomaterials.

You will use high-throughput image-based cell profiling, a technique that combines fluorescent microscopy and computer-based image analysis to track and study cellular response to different stimuli, giving you the opportunity to develop a useful quantitative bioinformatic skillset.

The team

You will be joining the Complex Interface Team, a new interdisciplinary research group led by Dr Stuart Higgins (School of Physics, Engineering and Technology), working to better understand the role of bioelectricity and its application in healthcare. The team is supported by ~£2 million in funding, providing a well-resourced environment to deliver your research.

You will be supervised by Stuart and Professor Paul Genever (Department of Biology), giving you access to Paul’s team’s wide-ranging expertise in working with mesenchymal stem cells.

Beyond the lab

We are committed to best practice in academia and will support your professional development. Stuart is an award-winning supervisor, with over 9-years’ experience advocating for best practice in academia. You will have the opportunity to engage in science communication and public engagement.

The Complex Interface Team is creating a new national network to unite bioelectricity and bioelectronics expertise across the UK. Through this, you will have the opportunity to present and interact with both research, industrial and clinical teams, allowing you to develop your professional skills and build a network.

You will be

Either a biologist or bioengineer with an understanding of cell culture. This project brings together biology, bioelectronics, image analysis and data science techniques. We don’t expect you to be an expert in each of these areas – we are looking for a candidate with strong self-motivation and an appetite for new knowledge and skills. You’ll be comfortable working collaboratively with other researchers from other disciplines as part of the team.

By the end of this studentship

You will have highly-desirable cell culture skillset, biotechnology expertise, a broad network, and transferable professional skillset, ideally suited for a future career in industrial biomedical roles or academia.

Want to know more? Visit the website of the Complex Interface Team to read more about our work, ethos and values. Find out more about Paul’s research on his website.

How to Apply

Application deadline: Friday, January 31st, 2025

Project start date: September 2025

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team, and welcome applicants with diverse career paths and backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

Please apply via the University’s online application system. Please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process. To apply, please select the PhD in Engineering for September 2025 entry. Please specify in your PhD application that you would like to be considered for this studentship.

Within your application, please:

  • provide a personal statement of between 500 – 1000 words, contextualising your relevant experience to date, motivation for applying for this project, and what you hope to achieve from pursuing a PhD,

  • provide a CV of no more than 2 A4 pages, detailing your academic and employment background and other relevant experience and skills,

  • do not submit a research proposal as part of your application (this is an ‘advertised research project’).

Applications will be evaluated using a standardised rubric, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview via video conferencing (with the opportunity for reasonable adjustments, as required). If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to Stuart.

Apply via the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology website

Funding notes

Important: studentship funding is only available to candidates eligible for UK Home-fee status. Unfortunately, international candidates cannot be accepted for funding at this time.

This PhD studentship will cover the tuition fee at the home rate (£4,786 in 2024/25), an annual stipend at the standard research council rate for a period of up to 3.5 years (£19,237 in 2024/25) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). Please refer to UKRI website (View Website) for full eligibility criteria.