Apala Majumdar

[Annual stipend at the UKRI minimum rate currently £21,805 per year plus £1,000 per annum enhancement, with a research training support grant of up to £20,000 for the full 4-year programme.] This 4-year PhD studentship at The University of Manchester explores interdisciplinary methods for liquid crystal-based biosensing . The project focuses on how liquid crystals interact with prototype cells and soft flexible surfaces, and how those interactions can be turned into measurable sensing signals. The research combines mathematical modelling , ex-vivo laboratory experiments , and in-silico experiments to study interfacial liquid crystal–cell behaviour. A key aim is to understand how these interactions drive reorientation and structural changes in liquid crystals, and how those changes may be translated into quantifiable outputs for sensing applications. The project is organised around work packages spanning modelling, mechanics, machine learning, and laboratory experimentation. The student will work on developing new models for liquid crystal interactions with tissue-like soft surfaces, running benchmark experiments with epithelial tissue and cells, validating models against experimental data, and building neural-network-based tools to connect liquid crystal outputs with digital diagnostics and healthcare applications. The project sits at the interface of soft matter, cell interaction studies, and computational methods, with applications in biosensing, detection of infected cells, and targeted drug delivery. It offers a research environment that brings together theory, experiment, and data-driven analysis to develop a framework for liquid crystal biosensors with bespoke properties. The project is expected to start in September 2027.