Exciting Funded PhD Opportunities, School of Chemistry at Bangor University, UK

Life Sciences Research Network Wales (LSRNW) PhD Studentship:

The Life Sciences Research Network Wales, an initiative funded through the Welsh Government’s Ser Cymru program, supports world-class science within Wales and develops new therapeutic treatments in areas of unmet medical and veterinary need. The School of Chemistry at Bangor University (BU) is proud to be awarded the funding to support a three-year PhD studentship, in collaboration with the School of Medical Sciences. This scholarship will offer the student a monthly stipend in line with RCUK rates, and the tuition fees at the rate for an EU and home student are waived by Bangor University. The successful candidate will be expected to start from 1st Oct 2016.
The successful candidate should have gained a Master degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Polymer Chemistry or a related subject, or hold a first or upper second-class honours degree in one of these disciplines. She/he should be self-motivated and have good communication skills both in verbal and written English. Applicants should be resident in
the convergence area of Wales on appointment, and should have the right to work in the region on qualification.
This LSRNW PhD research project will develop Smart Multifunctional Nanocarriers with Biodegradable and Dual Responsive (pH and temperature) Properties from Hyperbranched Polymers for Targeted Cancer Drug Delivery. To date, many cancer drugs (including small bioactive molecules and therapeutic biopolymers or their combinations) have been discovered and shown promising bioactivity towards killing cancer cells. However, the challenge lies in the pharmacokinetics of these cancer drugs (such as absorption, biodistribution, chemical stability in-vivo, and short half-life), severe side-effects, potential toxicity and immunogenicity. This LSRNW PhD project will tackle this challenge by developing a targeted cancer drug delivery system using smart polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based multifunctional polymeric drug nanocarriers. These polymeric nanomedicines will carry high drug load due to its unique hyperbranched topology and multifunctionality, protect the active principles contained (e.g. doxorubicin, aminoglutethimide or gemcitabine), target specific motifs of cancer cells by using targeting group (e.g. folic acid) and release drugs after internalisation into cancer cells. The impact of this project could be significant due to the anticipated low cost, high efficacy and low side effects of the smart polymeric nanomedicines being developed.
By successfully completing this project, the PhD student will be trained with multidisciplinary research and development skills in the field of developing polymeric biomaterials for targeted drug delivery. The student will be supervised by Dr Hongyun Tai (School of Chemistry, BU) and co-supervised by Dr Edgar Hartsuiker(School of Medical Sciences, BU). This multidisciplinary supervision team and the national and international collaborations will provide an excellent PhD training opportunity.
For further information about Dr Tai’s research group at the School of Chemistry and Life Science Research Network Wales, please following the links below: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/chemistry/ht/index.php#overview
http://www.lsrnw.ac.uk/
Informal enquiry, please email Dr Hongyun Tai at h.tai@bangor.ac.uk.
Please submit a CV, a covering letter and two names of referees to Dr Hongyun Tai by 8th of July 2016 at h.tai@bangor.ac.uk. The interview date is to be confirmed.
This project is partially funded by the Life Sciences Research Network Wales, an initiative funded through the Welsh Government’s Ser Cymru program, and Bangor University.