About the Project
Design and Build the Next Generation of Ultrasound Medical Devices
Imagine developing an ultrasound device small enough to fit inside a catheter, capable of both diagnosing disease and delivering therapy directly at the point of care.
This fully funded PhD project offers a unique opportunity to combine medical device design, ultrasound engineering, advanced materials, microfabrication and biomedical technology development to create a prototype system that could transform the treatment of stroke.
Working across the University of Glasgow and A*STAR Singapore, you will contribute to the development of a new generation of high-frequency ultrasound devices capable of characterising blood clots in real time and delivering highly targeted ultrasound treatments. The project sits at the intersection of engineering innovation and clinical need, giving you the opportunity to develop technology with genuine potential to improve patient care.
Why Apply?
This is a highly practical engineering PhD for students who enjoy building, designing and testing new technologies.
Throughout the project you will:
- Design and prototype cutting-edge ultrasound devices.
- Work with advanced piezoelectric materials.
- Develop and test high-frequency ultrasound transducers.
- Use state-of-the-art instrumentation and laboratory facilities.
- Apply modelling and data analysis tools such as MATLAB.
- Translate engineering concepts into real-world medical technologies.
- Collaborate directly with leading researchers and clinical experts.
Rather than focusing on a single discipline, you will develop expertise spanning device design, materials engineering, fabrication, instrumentation, experimental testing and biomedical applications.
Gain Rare and Highly Sought-After Fabrication Skills
A major feature of this project is access to the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, one of the UK's leading cleanroom facilities.
The successful student will be strongly encouraged and supported to develop practical microfabrication skills, enabling the creation and testing of novel piezoelectric structures and ultrasound transducer technologies.
Experience of cleanroom processing and microfabrication is highly valued across sectors including:
- Medical devices
- Semiconductor technologies
- Advanced manufacturing
- Sensors and instrumentation
- Research and development
This is an exceptional opportunity to graduate with technical skills that are both academically distinctive and highly relevant to industry.
International Research Experience in Singapore
The project forms part of an exciting new collaboration between the University of Glasgow and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR Singapore.
The successful student will have the opportunity to undertake a research placement in Singapore, gaining access to world-leading expertise and facilities in:
- Piezoelectric materials
- Ultrasound transducer fabrication
- Advanced device engineering
This international experience will provide invaluable opportunities to build professional networks, develop new technical skills and work within a globally recognised research environment.
For many students, this overseas research experience becomes one of the most valuable and distinctive aspects of their CV.
Join a Leading Biomedical Ultrasound Research Team
You will become part of a well-established and highly collaborative biomedical ultrasound research group at the University of Glasgow.
The group has expertise spanning:
- Ultrasound imaging
- Ultrasound therapy
- Quantitative ultrasound
- Medical device development
- Ultrasound contrast agents
- Translational biomedical engineering
The research environment combines fundamental engineering innovation with a strong emphasis on real-world impact and includes extensive international collaborations and a track record of translating research outcomes towards clinical and commercial applications.
You will also benefit from supervision by Prof Andrew Feeney, who brings extensive expertise in ultrasound transducer design, fabrication and technology commercialisation.
The Engineering Challenge
Current stroke thrombectomy procedures require surgeons to locate and mechanically remove blood clots through catheter-based interventions. While highly effective, these procedures are technically demanding and carry significant risks.
This PhD will explore a new engineering approach: combining high-resolution ultrasound imaging with targeted ultrasound therapy within a single miniature catheter-based device.
To achieve this, the student will:
- Define technical requirements in collaboration with clinical partners.
- Characterise clot structure using advanced quantitative ultrasound techniques.
- Design and fabricate novel high-frequency ultrasound transducers.
- Investigate advanced piezoelectric materials for miniaturised devices.
- Develop prototype catheter-based systems.
- Evaluate ultrasound-based treatment strategies for clot disruption.
The resulting technology could provide surgeons with real-time information about clot properties while enabling more precise and less invasive treatment.
What You Will Graduate With
By the end of the project, you will have developed expertise in:
- Ultrasound engineering
- Medical device development
- Advanced materials
- Cleanroom fabrication
- Experimental design
- Instrumentation
- Data analysis and modelling
- International collaborative research
You will graduate with a unique combination of technical, practical and international experience that is highly attractive to employers across medical technology, advanced manufacturing, research and development, and academia.
A PhD is an opportunity to become an expert in an exciting area of technology while developing advanced technical, analytical and problem-solving skills. Beyond earning a doctorate, you will gain experience tackling real-world challenges, working with leading researchers, publishing internationally recognised research and building a network of professional contacts. For ambitious engineers, a PhD can open doors to careers in research and development, advanced technology industries, entrepreneurship and academia, while providing the chance to create innovations that make a genuine difference to society.
Eligibility:
The successful applicant will have a first or upper second class degree (or equivalent experience) in mechanical, electrical or biomedical engineering or physics (or associated disciplines).
We are seeking a motivated and creative engineering graduate who enjoys solving practical problems and building new technologies.
Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a strong degree in:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Materials Science
- A closely related discipline
We are particularly interested in students who can demonstrate both strong academic performance and practical engineering capability.
Useful experience may include:
- Laboratory experimentation
- Device design or prototyping
- Electronics
- Instrumentation
- CAD
- Manufacturing or fabrication
- Signal processing
- MATLAB or Python programming
- Experimental research
- Enjoyment of hobbies or pastimes involving hands-on creativity
If you are excited by the prospect of designing and building next-generation medical technologies, gaining international research experience, and developing specialist skills rarely available within a single PhD project, we would encourage you to apply.
Funding Notes
The studentship is supported by the University of Glasgow, and it will cover home tuition fees and provide a stipend at the UKRI rate for 3.5 years (£21,805 for session 2026/27).