Job Description

Lead supervisor: Prof. Dennis Douroumis

Project Description:

Continuous manufacturing (CM) using Hot-melt extrusion (HME) coupled with 3D printing is an emerging processing technology in pharmaceutical industry due to its wide range of applications. CM offers many advantages over other pharmaceutical processing techniques and pharmaceutical-class extruders have evolved and adapted to mix drugs with carriers for various solid dosage forms as well as for the manufacturing of marketed products.

The aim of the PhD project is to explore the coupling of continuous HME with direct 3D printing for the development of personalised dosage forms and the development of a de-centralised supply chain.

Some of the project objectives are the following: * Identify drug substances and polymers by considering group\'s expertise in the field. Further development will be achieved by assessing the effect of critical process parameters (CPP) such as temperature, feed rate, screw rate and screw design on the\' quality and throughput of extruded solid dispersions. The same will be conducted for the 3D printing process (e.g., print speed, nozzle/build bed temperature,)

• Optimize a continuous scalable manufacturing process through the direct printing of extrudates for the customization of individualised dosage forms.
• Physicochemical characterization of the extruded formulations by using a wide range of analytical techniques

Duration: 3 years, Full-Time Study

Bursary available:

Year 1: \xc2\xa317,668 (FT) or pro-rata (PT)

Year 2-3: In line with UKRI rate

The successful candidate will receive a contribution to tuition fees equivalent to the university\'s Home rate, (\xc2\xa34,596 FT) for the duration of their scholarship. International applicants must pay the remainder tuition fee for the duration of scholarship.

Person Specification of Essential (E) or Desirable (D) requirements:

Education and Training:

• 1st Class or 2nd class, First Division honours degree or a taught master\'s degree with a minimum average of 60% in all areas of assessment (UK or UK equivalent)

E

• If first language is not English a language proficiency score of at least IELTS 6.5 (in all elements of the test) or an equivalent UK VISA and Immigration secure English Language Test is required, Unless the degree above was taught in English and obtained in a majority English speaking country, as recognised by the UKBA.

E

Experience & Skills:

• Experience in advance characterisation techniques

E

• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods

E

• Experience in extrusion and 3D printing

D

Personal Attributes:

• Able to, under guidance, complete independent work successfully

E

• Has excellent written and oral communication skills

E

• Excellent organisational skills

D

Other Requirements:

• This scholarship may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme approval

E

• The scholarship must commence before 31st October 2026.

E

• The applicant must undertake a DBS clearance upon starting the scholarship

E

Closing date for applications: 30th September 2023

For further information contact:

Please read this information before making an application ( ). Applications need to be made online via this link. No other form of application will be considered.

All applications must include the following information:

• VC Scholarship Reference Number (Ref)
• Personal Statement - outlining your motivation for applying for this PhD, and previous research experience
• Academic qualification certificates/transcripts*
• IELTS/English Language certificate
• Your complete tabular CV*
• Two reference letters

\xc2\xa317,668 - please see advert

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