PhD Studentship in Spine Biomechanics

About the Project

Brief overview of the project:

We are seeking two highly motivated PhD students (UK home fee only) to join the Newell Spine Lab in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London to work on projects to further our understanding of spine biomechanics to improve outcomes for patients with spinal pathologies.

Motivation and project specifics:From a biomechanical perspective, the spine is one of the most complex regions of the human body to study, which may be a factor in it also being one of the least well understood. This gap presents exciting opportunities to apply innovative techniques to investigate the mechanical response of the spine to loading and to leverage the resulting knowledge to develop new diagnostic tools, implants, orthotics, and surgical procedures.

Two projects are proposed. The first focuses on developing and applying techniques to characterise internal mechanical responses to loading in vivo using clinical images of patients and volunteers to improve our understanding of spinal deformity progression and recovery following sports-related spinal injuries. The second focuses on developing finite element modelling strategies, validated against ex vivo tests and clinical data, to enable the prediction of surgical complications so that preventive strategies can be implemented.

For background information, see our recent publications in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1730260), JOR Spine (https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70154), and European Spine Journal (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09715-x).

Lab, location and environment:These projects will be undertaken in the Bioengineering Department at Imperial College London within the research group of Dr. Nic Newell. The Newell Spine Lab utilises world-leading equipment and resources from the IRB Test Suite, facilitating projects at the cutting edge of spine biomechanics research. The group has strong links with clinicians in the UK (Fortius Clinic, ROH, RNOH), the US (Mayo Clinic), and Singapore (SGH), who will be regularly involved in the project to maximise the potential for real-world clinical impact.

Funding information

This fully funded 3-year UK home studentship includes university fees and a tax-free stipend, currently set at £22,780 per annum for 2025–26 (adjusted annually).

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate with:

• an Honours Degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• A strong interest in biomechanics, the spine, implants, computational modelling, and applied biomechanics research.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; intrinsically motivated for discovery and scientific writing.
• A resilient growth mindset.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment.
• This opportunity is for students that are eligible for UK home student fees.

How to apply:

• 500-word motivation letter
• CV including contact information for two references
• send with subject line “PhD in Spine Biomechanics” to Dr Nic Newell ([Email Address Removed])
• Deadline June 19th, 2026 (although positions may be offered prior to this should suitable candidates apply).
• Start date is 01/10/26.