Job Opportunities

Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB), University of Cambridge and the new AstraZeneca Discovery Centre at Cambridge. The student will be working on a collaborative project jointly supervised by Prof Róisín M. Owens in CEB and Dr Muireann Coen, Oncology Safety, AstraZeneca and will have the opportunity to work across the two sites. The project, entitled "Conformal electronic devices for non-invasive, dynamic monitoring of barrier tissues" spans the fields of bioelectronics, tissue engineering and drug discovery, and has generated much excitement in both academia and industry.

Measurement of barrier tissue integrity, as a functional parameter, is crucial to understanding the health of these tissues. Electrical measurement of epithelial tissues, e.g. the gut and lung (and some endothelial) provides an indication of barrier permeability to ion flux, as both a more sensitive and faster measurement than flux assays with molecular tracers which are a) incompatible with 3D tissue models and b) lack resolution. The challenge with electrical monitoring is that current methods (e.g. chopstick electrodes) are based on rigid electrodes that are highly user dependent and provide inhomogeneous results. Owens and team recently developed conformal planar electrodes that can non-invasively sit on tissues without damaging them and generate continuous information on barrier integrity. The design of the electrodes is such that it does not need to be placed on either side of the tissue, but rather on one side only. In addition, the devices are compatible with measurements at the air-liquid interface, a feature of, for example, skin and airway epithelia. Here, we propose to expand on this initial proof of principle, optimizing the electrode design to enable collection of spatial information on different parts of a tissue. Enhancement of sensitivity will also allow measurement from endothelial tissues, while adaptation of the materials used may enable monitoring from more complex tissue shapes (e.g. from biopsies) or 3D structures like spheroids/organoids.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a first or high second-class degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in all previous degrees and in a relevant subject such as biomedical or (bio)chemical engineering. As this is an interdisciplinary project, candidates from biological sciences may be considered, provided there is some evidence of exposure and significant interest in technology development (and vice versa, physical scientists with experience of biology). Information on overseas equivalencies is available at https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international/international-qualifications Full details of the University's entrance requirements and scholarships are specified on the following link: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will initially spend the majority of their time in the Dept of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, with attendance at Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS), AZ to integrate with the team, network and generate an experimental plan for application of the devices to address critical safety questions in the discovery stage of drug development. Dependent on project progression, it is anticipated that in the final year the PhD student would spend at least 60% of their time at AZ and hence have broad exposure to cross-sector research environments.

The position is open to UK citizens or overseas students who meet the UK residency requirements for the Home Fee rate. Students will not be allowed to supplement fees via self funding.

Full funding covering Maintenance fees at £21,500 per annum and the University Composition Fee at the Home rate is provided for the studentship, with effect from 1 October 2025.

To apply for this studentship, you will need to submit an application for our PhD in Biotechnology via https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/. You must note Prof Roisin Owens as your prospective supervisor and note vacancy reference number NQ43634 in your research proposal. We are unable to consider incomplete or late applications.

Please quote reference NQ43634 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.