We are seeking a PhD student to develop a portable bioelectronic device for the detection of bioanalytes. Within this project, we will work with electroactive synthetic receptors that will be directly integrated into inks to facilitate large scale printing of conductive materials (such as via screen or 3D printing). Our hypothesis is that binding to these polymeric materials will result in a measurable electrochemical response, enabling to quantify biomarker concentration. An example of our previous work, where we employed these materials for the sensing of glucose, can be found via this link: https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202403320.
We will combine this electrochemical device with innovative microfluidics to ensure that we can measure small sample volumes, which is critical for clinical analysis, and expand to multimarker sensing. We are particularly interested in technology that can be used near the patient using low-cost and portable technology, as this is inherently suitable for use in remote regions or areas with limited resources. This work is cross-disciplinary and sits at the interface of polymer science and electronics and we will be working with our collaborators in Cameroon on the electrochemistry element of the project.
Eligibility
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.
Funding
This is a 3.5-year PhD. Excellent candidates will be nominated for competence-based funding. We particularly encourage students who may be eligible for the African Futures Scholarship awards. The deadline to apply is Monday 5th January. Applications submitted after this date will still be accepted; however, we cannot guarantee that they will be considered for the African Futures Scholarship award.
For more information, visit our funding page or search our funding database for specific scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.
Self funded students are also welcome to apply.
The start date is October 2026.
Deadline: Friday, January 23, 2026
For more information and to apply visit https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/smart-sensing-moving-healthcare-into-the-community/?p191501
