PhD Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS 2026). Research Project: Synergistic acoustic-electrostatic-inertial separation of microplastics from blood: concept and development

About the Project

The health risks associated with microplastics in blood include cerebral thrombosis, endothelial dysfunction, accelerated cardiovascular diseases progression and systemic inflammation. Hence, techniques that can separate microplastics from blood are being explored for development as an intervention strategy. Current methods for separating microplastics from blood employ bulk filtering, which is inefficient and impractical from a clinical standpoint. More recently, in vitro experiments demonstrated that surface acoustic waves can generate sufficient acoustic radiation force to isolate microplastics from blood flow. This project builds upon these studies to investigate more effective strategies for separating microplastics from blood, including the adoption of surface acoustic waves, functionalised surfaces by exploiting the electromechanical properties of microplastics and hydrodynamic forces based on the differences in microplastic size and mass. The outcomes from this project may lead to the development of devices that can be used clinically for separating microplastics from blood.

This project is part of Monash University Malaysia’s Graduate Research Thematic Cluster, Integrated Strategies in Microplastics Research

We seek candidates with a background in mechanical engineering or a related discipline to work on this multidisciplinary research. Candidates with prior experience in (i) SAW and interdigital transducers, (ii) 3D printing, (iii) microfluidics and/or (iv) acoustics will be prioritised.

Candidates must be able to work effectively in a group and can communicate their findings to research collaborators of different background.

For enquiries, please contact Dr Ajay Achath Mohanan

How to Apply

It is suggested that you first contact the main supervisor and provide them with your academic background and achievements to determine whether you are a 'fit' for this research topic.

If you feel you are a good fit, submit your application here and ensure that you enter the same GEMS research topic as advertised on this webpage. To review the application requirements, please refer to our application submission guide. When submitting your application, please select the Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS). More information about GEMS is available here.

Funding Notes

The Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS), funded by Monash University Malaysia, features regional mobility and is awarded to highly qualified students seeking to work on projects of regional and global relevance.

Recipients of GEMS will be funded for an immersive year in either Monash University Australia, Monash University Indonesia, or the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay of up to 9 months and have access to Monash University’s global network of research expertise and infrastructure during their candidature period.

Eligibility

To be eligible for GEMS, you must possess a minimum academic qualification of First Class Honours (H1) or its equivalence (H1E) recognised by Monash University Malaysia and satisfy the English language requirements.