Fully Funded PhD Position: Real-time Cortisol and Aldosterone Assay (DC8) – ENDOTRAIN MSCA Doctoral Network Imperial College London in United Kingdom

This fully funded PhD position at Imperial College London is part of the ENDOTRAIN MSCA Doctoral Network, focusing on the development of real-time cortisol and aldosterone assays using advanced wearable sensor technology. The project, embedded in Work Package 2: Technologies for Multimodal Data, aims to address the limitations of current hormone monitoring methods by developing minimally-invasive and non-invasive biosensors. Two innovative approaches will be explored: solid microneedle biosensors for continuous measurement in interstitial fluid and the use of exhaled condensed breath as a novel sample matrix for hormone detection.

The research is highly interdisciplinary, combining expertise in bioengineering, analytical chemistry, electroanalysis, and hormonal monitoring. The successful candidate will benefit from secondments at Designworks (Windsor, UK) for device development, the University of Bergen (Norway), and the University of Bristol (UK) for sensor testing in both patients and healthy subjects. This international collaboration offers excellent networking opportunities and exposure to both academic and industrial research environments.

Imperial College London, renowned for its excellence in science, engineering, medicine, and business, provides a vibrant research environment with access to cross-disciplinary centres and global challenge institutes. The Department of Bioengineering hosts this position, and the candidate will participate in the ENDOTRAIN network’s interdisciplinary training, including workshops, retreats, transferable skills courses, and cohort-wide meetings across Europe.

Applicants must have a strong academic background, holding at least a first class or upper second class honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, chemical engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, or a related field. A relevant master’s degree or integrated master’s is required. Essential skills include hands-on experience in wet chemistry, biochemistry, electroanalytical chemistry, and instrumental analytical chemistry (liquid chromatography, spectroscopy, LC-MS, GC-MS). Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in open-ended research projects are necessary, as is a keen interest in wearable technology and multidisciplinary collaboration. Desirable skills include laboratory internships, digital signal processing, time series analysis, microfabrication, and analogue electronics design.

Funding is provided through the MSCA Doctoral Network, with a salary range of £44,284.07–£48,796.89 for three years. Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment. The application deadline is February 15, 2026, and the latest possible start date is August 2026.

To apply, candidates must submit their application via the Jobbnorge portal, including all mandatory attachments. For further details, visit the Real-time cortisol and aldosterone assay (DC8) | UiB page and the Imperial College London Bioengineering doctoral programme site.