FILET, Food Innovation with Live-cell Engineering Technologies

About the Project

The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath is inviting applications for the following fully-funded PhD project, expected to commence in September 2026.

This advert will close when a suitable candidate is identified. Early application is therefore encouraged.

Project Description

Global meat production is responsible for nearly 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions, placing conventional livestock farming at the centre of the climate crisis (FAO, 2023). Cultivated meat offers a transformative alternative: producing animal protein directly from cells, without the need for slaughter or the environmental burden of conventional agriculture. The FILET project (Food Innovation with Live-cell Engineering Technologies) will develop the biological and engineering foundations needed to make cultivated meat a scalable and cost- effective reality. The central challenge in the field is the lack of well-characterised cell lines capable of performing consistently at scale, and that is the gap that FILET addresses. The project will focus on two interconnected challenges: (1) cell line engineering and (2) production scale-up. The first part of the project aims to generate immortalised muscle cell line(s) that retain key biological properties under industrially relevant culture conditions and provide competitive advantage(s) over primary cell material. The second stage aims to expand the cell lines generated at the litre scale using stirred tank bioreactors. Beyond the science, FILET has strong potential to generate valuable intellectual property around cell line development and bioprocess design. This creates a clear pathway toward industry translation and positions the project and the successful applicant at the interface of academic excellence and real-world impact. In addition, FILET will lay the groundwork for a new generation of sustainable protein production, contributing directly to UK food security, net zero targets, and the growing cellular agriculture industry.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants should have hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, cell engineering, and cell expansion, with a strong emphasis on lentiviral vector delivery and qPCR-based characterisation methods. Familiarity with flow cytometry and other cell characterisation approaches is also desirable. Experience with cost of goods analysis or techno-economic assessment in a biomanufacturing context would be a distinct advantage. Strong practical laboratory skills and the ability to analyse and interpret experimental data are essential.

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.

Non-UK applicants must meet the programme’s English language requirement.

Enquiries and Applications

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Pedro Silva Couto - psc66@bath.ac.uk

Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

You must select 'University of Bath LURS' from the dropdown menu in the 'Funding your studies' section of the application form and provide the supervisor's name and project title in the 'Your PhD project' section. Failure to complete these steps will result in a delay to the processing of your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.

More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

Project Keywords: Cellular agriculture, biomanufacturing, bioreactors, sustainability and food innovation.

Funding Notes

Candidates may be considered for a University of Bath 'LURS' studentship. This funding covers tuition fees at the Home or Overseas rate, a stipend (£21,805 2026/27 rate) and a £1000/annum training support budget, for up to 3 years.