Studentship - EPSRC - Engineering Collagen-Based Materials for the Scalable Manufacturing of Next-Generation Regenerative Therapies

The University of Manchester - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research theme: Bioengineering

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27; subject to annual uplift), and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. EU students with settled or pre-settled status and international student can apply but their application eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The start date is October 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

This PhD project addresses a fundamental challenge at the interface of biomaterials science, sustainability, and biofabrication: transforming underutilised animal-derived waste into high-value, clinically translatable biomaterials. Animal by-products from the food industry are an abundant yet largely untapped source of collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM), offering a unique opportunity to develop sustainable alternatives to conventional biomaterials.

The project will focus on engineering collagen-based hydrogels and bioinks with precisely tunable mechanical, viscoelastic, and degradation properties, enabling both injectable therapies and advanced 3D bioprinting. Delivered in collaboration with an industrial partner and global leader in biomaterials for healthcare applications, the research is strongly aligned with translation, scalability, and real-world impact. Materials will be validated using human stem cell models relevant to skeletal tissue regeneration.

This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation, sustainable biomaterials, bridging the circular bio-economy with advanced regenerative medicine.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact the main supervisor, Dr. Marco Domingos - marco.domingos@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.