Design and characterization of immunomodulatory glycopolymers

About the Project

PhD Opportunity: Surfaces, Macrophage Behavior, and Glycopolymer Design

We are seeking motivated candidates for a PhD project positioned at the exciting intersection of polymer chemistry and immunology. The research will explore how sugar-containing synthetic polymers (glycopolymers) influence the behavior of specific immune cells, particularly macrophages.

The focus of the project can be tailored to emphasize either polymer chemistry or immunology and cell culture, depending on the candidate’s skills, experience, and academic background.

Macrophages are highly dynamic immune cells that change their phenotype and behavior depending on the chemical and physical properties of the surfaces they encounter. Understanding this phenomenon is critical for developing new strategies to modulate immune responses.

This PhD project will investigate how surface chemistry and topography interact with cell-surface receptors such as the mannose receptor (CD206) to influence macrophage function. A key aspect of the research will be the synthesis of glycopolymers designed to target CD206, building on our recent discovery that such polymers can act as the first known inhibitor of the mannose receptor (Mastrotto, F. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 23134−23147). Combined with our preliminary findings on macrophage behavior, this project will explore the interplay between material properties and immune cell signaling, opening new avenues for immunomodulation.

The project will involve Dr Giuseppe Mantovani for the glycopolymer aspects of this work, and Dr Anna Piccinini and Prof Luisa Martinez Pomares for biology and immunology.

Interdisciplinary Training: You will gain expertise in polymer synthesis, glycochemistry, and cellular imaging and immunological assays, working within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team. The project can be tailored to emphasize polymer chemistry or immunology based on your background.

If you are passionate about biomaterials and immune cell behaviour, we encourage you to apply.

What we offer. You will join a globally leading University / School with a vibrant and international research community and state-of-the-art facilities. The University is amongst the top 100 universities in the QS World University ranking for 2026 and the School of Pharmacy is ranked 12th In the world. The University of Nottingham has excellent training provisions through its Research Academy, centralised facility hubs such as the Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre (NMRC) and a very supportive postgraduate researcher community.

We are looking for candidates who

• are enthusiastic researchers
• hold a degree in a Natural Sciences related area, including but not limited to Chemistry, Material Science, Mathematics or Computational Sciences
• have an interest to develop skills in either experimental (for computationally oriented graduates) or computational (for experimentally oriented graduates) areas
• have already or have the prospect of securing their own funding for a PhD project

Additional desirable skills (they do not have to be met but can be a bonus):

• experience in synthetic polymer chemistry
• experience in cell culture

Eligibility. Candidates must meet the entry requirements outlined by the University of Nottingham for Pharmacy PhD candidates: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/course/research/pharmacy-phd#requirements

Start date. The typical start date is the end of September of the next academic year.

How to apply. Interested candidates with an opportunity for self-funding should contact the project lead, Dr Giuseppe.mantovani@nottingham.ac.uk

Funding Notes

Candidates must bring their own scholarships or be self-funded.