Supervisors: Dr John Batchelor and Dr Simon Holder

Applications are invited for a fully-funded PhD studentship split between the Schools of Engineering and Digital Arts and the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Kent. 

The University of Kent is well known internationally for its work on passive wireless sensing devices and advanced polymer materials. The aim of the project is to investigate the innovative design of passive sensors capable of detecting yeast cells and the biofilms that they produce. The fundamental sensing component of these sensors will be stimuli-responsive polymer substrates. The biosensors will enable the technologies needed by health professionals who require a cost effective and reliable means of detecting infection hazards on medical implants.  To develop such technology we will measure the growth of yeast biofilms on voice prosthesis as a model system. The growth of yeast biofilms on voice prosthesis in patients who have undergone a total laryngectomy following throat cancer represents a significant clinical problem that would benefit greatly from such technology.

The applicant will work within the internationally excellent Kent Functional Materials Group (FMG). The FMG conducts research into a variety of chemical and materials systems in well-equipped labs situated within the School of Physical Sciences. The sensors will be developed in the Antennas Laboratory at Kent which has excellent facilities for the fabrication of sensing prototypes and for the characterization and measurement of passive sensors. We are well equipped with a workshop to produce required hardware for experimentation and prototyping. The development of new polymer substrates for wireless sensing applications will complement an on going collaboration between both Schools in this area.

The main roles of the PhD student will include: (i) synthesis of stimuli-responsive functional polymer thin films on various substrates using controlled radical methods (ii) chemical and materials analysis of the polymer films (iii) measurement of the interaction of the thin films with biologically relevant chemicals and cells (iv) using electromagnetic simulation software to investigate the electrical loading effects of biofilms, (v) designing RFID tag based sensors which respond to biofilm capacitive loading, (vi) creating and testing prototype sensors (vii) The student will give presentations to research groups and at conferences, write technical reports and draft papers for peer reviewed journals. 

The candidate will ideally have a Masters degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Biochemistry or a related Physical Science. This is a highly interdisciplinary project and candidates who can demonstrate experience working between Engineering and Chemistry, or a strong willingness to do so, will be especially welcome. Training in wireless sensor design and all relevant lab techniques will be provided.

Funding details: Funding will cover fees at the home rate of £4,052 together with a maintenance stipend of £14,057. A travel and consumables budget is also available.

Start date:  1 October 2015

Length of Award:  3 years

Eligibility:  Open to UK applicants

Enquiries:  Any enquiries relating to the project should be directed to Dr John Batchelorj.c.batchelor<στο>kent.ac.uk or Dr Simon Holder S.J.Holder<στο>kent.ac.uk

Application:  Apply for a PhD at http://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply-online/262 and specify the research topic New ‘Smart’ Polymers for Biomedical Wireless Sensing Applications