Aim:

To trace uptake of nano drugs using imaging to inform on their bioavailability and potential ecological risk in aquatic animals

Background and Project Rationale:

Pharmaceuticals are fundamental to human and animal health. Increasing use of pharmaceuticals in both the developed and developing world, however, has brought with it increasing risks to wildlife, with some evidence for associated impacts on aquatic organisms. More effective delivery of pharmaceuticals to target tissues would reduce the amount of drug required to treat an ailment/disease condition, in turn reducing both the cost of medical health care and reducing discharges into the environment. Nanotechnology is being applied in drug development in an attempt to improve efficacy of drug delivery, sometimes in combination with antibody targeted delivery systems, and this has the potential to both improve drug delivery and reduce the volume of drug usage and in turn, discharge into the environment. With the exception of in mammals, knowledge surrounding how nano drugs behave in the body, however, is poorly understood, and this is a major gap for risk assessment. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) microscopy is established as a powerful tool for biological imaging and has exceptional capabilities for locating nanomaterials within biological samples with 3D sub-cellular resolution. This method is been applied effectively in the laboratory of Julian Moger to trace drug fate in mammals.


This PhD will focus on gaining understanding on the uptake and tissue partitioning of drugs in their nanoform and with different delivery systems in a series of aquatic organisms representing different trophic levels, including microorganism, daphnia and fish. It is envisaged that the work will focus on a comparative analysis on the bioavailability of the selected drugs in their nano and standard forms. The specific drugs and labelling systems will be derived from a literature analysis and compatibility with CARS for their detection.


This PhD studentship offers a very rich training in in-life ecotoxicology, imaging, molecular methods, and risk assessment. The student will further benefit from working within vibrant and interdisciplinary teams in Biosciences and Physics with direct engagement with industry.

This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU tuition fees, a stipend, payment for 110 hours of work (teaching-related activities) and a contribution towards research costs. For students who pay UK/EU tuition fees the award will cover the tuition fees in full, plus £13,863 per year (covering stipend and work payment). Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment for 110 hours of work and part of the international tuition fee. Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit and are awarded for three years of full-time study (part-time pro-rata).

Entry requirements:

You must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject. Please include any other specific qualifications you’re seeking.

The closing date for applications is midnight on 13th April 2014. We expect to hold interviews in the week commencing 29th April 2014.



Please visit http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=1469 for further details and apply online.

Please be aware during the application process you will be asked to upload the following documents:

• CV

• Covering letter (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).

• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)

• 2 references from referees familiar with your academic work (if your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to cles-studentships@exeter.ac.uk. If we don't receive your references, we will NOT request them unless you have been short-listed)

• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English (for further details of the University’s English language requirements please see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/englishrequirements/research/)

The closing date for applications is midnight on 13th of April 2014.

If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email cles-studentships@exeter.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1392 725150/723706/723310. Project specific queries should be directed to the supervisor.