"AstraZeneca-funded Non-clinical PhD studentship in Exploiting Multivalency to Design Telodendrimer Micelles for Tissue Specific Accumulation"

Applications are invited for 4-year PhD studentship (starting October 2026) 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. Ljiljana Fruk at CEB and Dr. Jessica Yu at AstraZeneca and will have the opportunity to work across the two sites.

The project aims to address that challenge by designing multivalent telodendrimer micelles with multiple targeting ligands to specifically accumulate in pancreatic tissue while avoiding liver uptake. Building on the AZ team's success in drug-encapsulating telodendrimer micelles and the Fruk lab's experience in drug formulation, surface modification and nanocarrier design and validation, this collaboration seeks to create a next-generation organic nanocarrier system. These nanocarriers should ultimately enhance tumour specificity and cellular uptake while minimizing nonspecific accumulation in the liver. It is expected that during PhD valuable insights will be gained not only into the design of organic nanocarrier systems but also into tissue targeting for precision drug delivery.

As a graduate student at Cambridge, you will have access to a wide range of training opportunities and benefit from close supervision provided by a primary and secondary PhD supervisor as well as a personal mentor.

During their PhD, there is no taught or examined coursework, but students are encouraged to attend the wide variety of lectures and training courses available to them across the Institute and wider University. This includes a centrally run Statistics course and the University Core Skills Training Programme, which includes sessions on Time Management, Presentation and Performance and Scientific Writing. Students at the Institute will be members of the University's Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS) who offer a wide variety of core skills and professional development training. Visit the Researcher Development page on the PSLS website for more information. In addition, the student can also take advantage of training courses and seminars in therapeutic sciences offered by Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences.

All students are expected to attend all internal and external seminars held within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. Students will also be encouraged to attend and present at the annual AstraZeneca students symposium.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently:

• Applicants can only be considered for this studentship if they meet the Department's entry criteria: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egcepdcng/requirements
• Applicants for the studentships should have a First Class (or a high 2:1) or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline such as chemistry, material science, nanoscience/nanotechnology, biomedical engineering or similar. Background in chemical synthesis is desired as well as the interest in working at the interface of chemistry and biology.
• If your degree(s) was taken outside the UK, please check the International Qualifications before you apply: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/international-qualifications

Funding

Full funding covering Maintenance fees at £21,500 per annum and the University Composition Fee, at the Home Fee rate, is provided for the studentship, with effect from 1 October 2026. The position is open to UK citizens or overseas students who meet the UK residency requirements (home fees) or are able to augment the funds to cover extra cost associated with international student fees through scholarships or funding schemes. Students will not be allowed to supplement fees via self-funding.

Application Process:

To apply for these studentships, you will need to submit a formal application for either our PhD in Chemical Engineering or our PhD in Biotechnology programme, which is available at the entry criteria page above. You will need to note Prof Ljiljana Fruk as your prospective supervisor, and you will need to note vacancy reference number NQ47925 /AZ Non-Clinical PhD Studentship in the research proposal field. We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.

In order to be considered for additional funding, you must apply by 2 Dec 2025.

Please quote reference NQ47925 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. We place major emphasis on the importance of team work and an enjoyable work environment as a foundation for performing internationally leading research. This will allow the student to acquire cutting edge research methodologies in a supportive environment, where they can focus on making the best possible scientific progress.

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

Key information

• Department/location: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
• Reference: NQ47925
• Category: Studentships
• Date published: 12 November 2025
• Closing date: 2 December 2025