Funded PhD in Data-Driven Optimization of Reusable Medical Device Cleaning for Sustainable Healthcare Practices Technological University of the Shannon in Ireland

Technological University of the Shannon is advertising a fully funded 4-year PhD on Data-Driven Optimization of Reusable Medical Device Cleaning for Sustainable Healthcare Practices. The project sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, chemistry, medical device processing, cleaning validation, regulatory science, machine learning, and sustainable healthcare.

The research focuses on how soils such as blood, fat, and mucus are removed from reusable medical devices, and how factors like device material, geometry, detergent type, wash temperature, water quality, drying time, and soil type affect cleaning success and residual risk. The project will generate a dataset from standardized experiments and use it to train predictive machine-learning models for cleaning probability and risk estimation.

Funding is provided through the TUS Strategic Research Fund. The post states a PhD degree, duration of 48 months, and a fully funded structure. Applicants should hold a primary degree in a relevant discipline and have at least a 2.1 honours or equivalent. The post also mentions an IELTS requirement of 6.5 overall with no component below 6.5.

The project lead supervisors listed are Dr Lisa Henihan, Prof Neil Rowan, Dr Javed Iqbal, and Dr Daniela Butan. The application deadline is 14 June 2026. Interested candidates should download the TUS scholarship application form, include the project title in the subject line, and email the completed application to [email protected]. Further information is available from [email protected] and the TUS funded research page.