PhD Studentships in Organ-on-a-Chip Technology, Biomedical Engineering, and Cancer Research at Queen Mary University of London

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology at Queen Mary University of London is now recruiting PhD students for its 2026 cohort. The CDT, based within the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, offers a multidisciplinary research environment focused on developing advanced in vitro models for biomedical research, disease modeling, and drug discovery. Projects span a range of topics including organ-on-a-chip platforms for liver, kidney, brain, skin, and tumour models, with applications in cancer research, neurotoxicity, radiotherapy, and tissue engineering. Key research areas include: Developing liver-on-a-chip platforms to assess radiation-induced injury, supervised by Dr Neil Dufton and Prof William Alazawi. Advanced glomerulus-on-a-chip models for kidney inflammation (Dr Maria Fragiadaki, Prof Thomas Iskratsch). 3D printed chips integrating cerebral organoids with electrode arrays for neurotoxicity testing (Dr Isabel Palacios, Prof Julien Gautrot). In vitro models to study tumour progression and bottlenecks (Dr Adrian Biddle, Prof John Marshall). Brain tumour margin-on-a-chip models for studying recurrence and electrotherapies (Dr Christopher Chapman, Dr Agnes Nishimura). Dual-use skin-on-a-chip models for oncology drug toxicity (Prof John Connelly, Dr Daniele Bergamaschi). Industry-sponsored projects, such as the Peptimatrix project led by Prof Martin Knight, focus on testing novel 3D matrix environments within commercial organ-chips. Students will join a vibrant research community, benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, and collaborate with industry partners including Peptimatrix, AstraZeneca, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The programme is fully funded for eligible students, covering tuition and a stipend. Applicants should have a strong background in biomedical engineering, biology, or related fields, and a keen interest in multidisciplinary research. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, for a September 2026 start. For more information and to apply, visit the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models website.