SMART: Synthesis of Molecules by Advanced Reactor Technology. Additive Manufacturing (3D Printed) of Chemical and Biological Reactors. Loughborough University
Internationally renowned for its research excellence, the University has a vibrant research student community of around 1200 students supported by a £6 million annual investment. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) every department was found to be undertaking research that is internationally recognised, with many regarded as ‘world leading’. Comfortably ranked in the top 20 of all major university league tables, the University was voted The Times Higher Education ‘Best Student Experience’ in England for six years running.
Loughborough University is sponsoring 5 PhD studentships to run in the form of a mini-CDT, on SMART: Synthesis of Molecules by Advanced Reactor Technology. Additive Manufacturing (3D Printed) of Chemical and Biological Reactors. These studentships are part of an interdisciplinary research programme across the University. We are looking forward, over the next 5-10 years, at drug discovery and screening programmes, and how these can be subjected to a step-change through exploitation of novel and disruptive technologies, including Additive Manufacturing (3D printing). Currently the bottlenecks in pharmaceutical development exist at the interface of chemistry and biology, and the application of new technologies. Additive Manufacturing solves some of these problems. Our vision, through a multidisciplinary approach, is to build self-optimizing chemical flow reactors which have built-in analytics and optimisation protocols, can perform catalytic reactions, and can screen for biological activity at enzyme and cell level. This project seeks to develop a new generation of smart chemical and biological reactor technologies for applications in high impact market sectors of drug discovery, molecular diagnostics, biocatalysis, regenerativemedicine and nanotechnology. The appointed candidates will have the opportunity to interact with a number of industrial partners. These studentships will be run as a mini-CDT, with the projects running in parallel. Regular meetings and briefings between all students and supervisors will ensure that all projects learn from each other to drive towards the goal of new smart reactor technology.
Projects involved in the Additive Manufacturing (3D Printed) of Chemical and Biological Reactors mini-CDT
- Design, Manufacture and Online Sensing in Flow Reactors
- Contributing Schools: School of Science (Chemistry)/Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing of Complex and Hybrid Flow Reactors
- Contributing Schools: Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering / School of Science (Chemistry)
- Material Synthesis and Surface Derivatisation using Flow Reactors
- Contributing Schools: School of Science (Chemistry) / School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering (ChemEng)
- Biocatalysis and Molecular Diagnostics in Flow Reactors
- Contributing Schools: School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering (ChemEng)/School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences
- Flow Reactors and the Cell
- Contributing Schools: School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences /School of Science (Chemistry)
Applications are now invited from exceptionally well-qualified students who want to embark on a full-time research degree programme commencing in Autumn Term 2014. Each studentship is valued at £13,726 plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. Non UK applicants must meet minimum English language requirements, see: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/englang/index.htm
For full details see http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/graduateschool/funding-prospective/graduate-school-studentships/
For an informal discussion or further information please contact Dr. Steve Christie, s.d.christie@lboro.ac.uk
Candidates should quote reference GSS14 in the funding section of the application form
Deadline for applications: Friday 28th February 2014. Interviews are planned to take place in early March.
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