Material Changes for a Sustainable Healthcare System

University of Leeds - Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences EPSRC Project Proposals 2026/27

Qualification Type:PhD Location:Leeds Funding for:UK Students Funding amount:£20,780 maintenance grant + Fees Hours:Full Time Placed On:1st December 2025 Closes:30th January 2026 Number of Positions: 1

School/Faculty: Mechanical Engineering

Funding: School of Mechanical Engineering Studentship, in collaboration with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, providing the award of full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for academic session 2025/26) per year for 3.5 years.

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Professor Peter Culmer: P.R.Culmer@leeds.ac.uk

Co-Supervision

Adam Peckham-Cooper (LTHT)

Professor Mahmoud Bhuta (BSMS)

Dr Zahrina Mardina: Z.Mardina@leeds.ac.uk

Dr Rory Turnbull: R.P.Turnbull@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

With growing global recognition of climate change, this PhD is an exciting chance to shape the development of sustainable healthcare systems, helping organisations like the NHS work towards carbon Net-Zero targets, reduce waste and adopt circular economy principles.

The PhD will be based in the new SUSTAIN facility (Simulation Theatre for Academia and Industry), working with the UK Department of Health and Social Care and leading experts in sustainable healthcare at Brighton & Sussex Medical School.

The PhD will involve the assessment of emerging healthcare technologies and procedures, using SUSTAIN facility – working to drive change in UK and international practice.

With growing global recognition of climate change, this PhD is an exciting chance to shape the development of sustainable healthcare systems, helping organisations like the NHS work towards carbon Net-Zero targets, reduce waste and adopt circular economy principles.

References:

1. Mardina, Z., Turnbull, R.P., Rahimifard, S., Bibb, R. and Culmer, P., 2025. CM3D: A circular materials Multi-Criteria Decision-Making tool for medical devices. Materials & Design, p.114015.
2. Rahimifard, S., Mardina, Z, Culmer, P., 2024. Cleaning up healthcare - a circular economy for medical devices, IM3 Magazine
3. Peckham-Cooper, A. 2023. An Innovation Agency report for the NHSE Sustainable Procurement Team: surgical instrument set rationalisation: understanding the benefits and replicating the process. NHS England Report.
4. Bhuta, M. Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, and UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (2023). Green surgery: Reducing the environmental impact of surgical care. London: UKHACC. https://ukhealthalliance.org/sustainable-healthcare/green-surgery-report/
5. Rizan C, Lillywhite R, Reed M, Bhutta MF. The carbon footprint of products used in five common surgical operations: identifying contributing products and processes. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2023;116(6):199-213. doi:10.1177/01410768231166135

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

A first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in a chemistry or related discipline.

Please apply via the ‘Apply’ button above.