PhD in Synthetic Biology

PhD Studentship: Building Synthetic Self-Propelled Cells for Bioinspired Motion /nAre you fascinated by working at the intersection of physics and synthetic biology? This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to develop autonomous microswimmers, which are bioinspired structures at the micrometre scale that can propel themselves through fluids, mimicking natural swimming organisms such as bacteria forms. /nUsing biological building blocks found in cells and encapsulating them inside vesicles, you will engineer and investigate synthetic microswimmers capable of generating propulsion forces, uncovering the new fundamental principles that govern their movement. The physics of swimming on these small length scales is fundamentally different to that when we swim. By characterizing their swimming dynamics and the mechanical deformations caused by the encapsulated active biomolecules, you will explore ways to control their motion in 3D space. /nThis project offers hands-on training in cutting-edge techniques, including fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, and biomolecular encapsulation. You will collaborate with leading scientists at the University of Surrey and international research partners (Prof. Yutaka Sumino, Tokyo, Japan). Opportunities for lab visits abroad will further enrich your research experience. You will be part of a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment, working closely with physicists, biologists, and engineers. You will also have the opportunity to present your research at international conferences. /nLocation: Guildford. Start date: October 2026. Supervisors: Dr Isabella Guido and Dr Richard Sear. Ref: PGR-2526-007.