About the Project
Many promising medicines fail because of poor solubility, limited bioavailability, or uncontrolled interactions with biological interfaces. Addressing these challenges requires a molecular-level understanding of how pharmaceutical compounds interact with polymers and complex biological environments.
This research will advance the development of molecular thermodynamic and statistical-mechanical models, combining theory and computation to connect molecular-scale interactions to the macroscopic behaviour of pharmaceutical formulations. The work will investigate how molecular charge, conformation and interfacial interactions influence properties such as solubility, stability, bioavailability and controlled release. The resulting framework will underpin digital tools for the rational design of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical formulations, reducing experimental trial-and-error and accelerating formulation development.
The project will be carried out within the Molecular Systems Engineering Group at Imperial College London, offering opportunities to work at the interface of molecular modelling, thermodynamics and systems-level formulation design in a highly collaborative research environment.
This scholarship is open to all applicants regardless of their fee status. It covers both tuition fees and a tax-free contribution to maintenance costs of £25,000 per annum for 42 months.
The Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London offers an advanced 3-4-year research degree that provides in-depth specialist training and knowledge in a topical area pertaining to Chemical Engineering and related Engineering and Science disciplines. The Department has state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities and is the home of the Automated high-throughput platform suite, the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering and the Sustainable Futures Lab.
The Department holds a Silver Athena Swan award for good practice in supporting academic women and gender equality renewed in 2024. This award recognises the good practices already in place for supporting women at all stages as well as our commitment to removing barriers to equal progress and achievement.
Deadline
- 01 November 2026 for the first selection round
- 11 January 2027 for the second selection round
- 01 March 2027 for the third selection round (subject to availability of scholarships)
In order to be considered for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships, you will need to submit your PhD application for admission through the online admissions system. Full details on the application and selection process can be found on our webpages.
We encourage all interested applicants to contact Prof Amparo Galindo ([contact details available in the full listing]) before making an application.
