PhD Scholarship in Synthetic Biopolymer‑Protein Conjugates for Mucosal Delivery

About the role

The successful candidate will undertake a three‑year PhD project developing innovative biopolymer‑protein conjugates for nasal delivery of drugs and antigens. Research will be conducted at the Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers in a PC2 laboratory equipped for synthetic biology and bioprocessing.

Key responsibilities

• Design and synthesize functional biopolymers targeting mucosal tissues.
• Develop and optimise electrohydrodynamic atomisation processes for nasal delivery.
• Generate and characterise bacterial production strains as cell factories.
• Perform bioprocess development and nanomaterial characterisation before and after nebulisation.

Required profile

• Honours‑level Bachelor degree or Master’s degree with a strong research component in material/biomaterial science.
• Demonstrated interest in bioengineering, microfluidics, and multidisciplinary research.
• Eligibility to meet English language proficiency requirements for international applicants.

Required skills

• Material and biomaterial science.
• Design, fabrication and characterisation of polymer particles.
• Electrohydrodynamic atomisation (EHDA) for nasal delivery.
• Bioprocess development and scale‑up.
• Nanomaterial analysis and characterisation.

What we offer

• Annual stipend of $34,752 (indexed) for up to three years of full‑time study.
• Potential tuition fee coverage for international scholars.
• Access to world‑class micro‑ and nanotechnology facilities.