Antibacterial resistant Dental Implant Engineering

Dental implants are often affected by bacterial infection which if remain undiagnosed may lead to a major surgical intervention, causing pain and distress. Worldwide, more than 40% of implant-wearing patients encounter infection and suffer from peri-implantitis. At present, there is no early diagnosis of peri-implantitis - a patient only realizes when the pain is felt.<br /> <br /> The PhD project is an opportunity for engineering Infection Resistant and Controlling Dental Implant which is based on root-anatomy and mastication biomechanics. The project will run in collaboration with Industry (Attenborough Dental in UK) which manufactures implant.<br /> <br /> The PhD training will be focused on Biomedical device Engineering using novel materials, biomechanics, cell, and antimicrobial biological characterization and control. The supervision support will be interdisciplinary.<br />

<p style="margin-bottom:11px">The PhD programme will have four major components:</p> <ul> <li>Antimicrobial/bacterial resistant Materials Engineering: essential for monitoring and surveilliance of infection in implant</li> <li>Manufacturing of coating that allows monitoring via non- or minimally invasive route</li> <li>Characterisation of cell and antimicrobial properties on implant materials by modelling elution</li> <li>Mechanical resistance of the coating on the implants under loading </li> <li>You will learn a number of experimental and modelling of experimental data for validation.</li> </ul>

<p><em><strong>EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award 2025/26 (Closing date: 28 February 2025)</strong></em></p> <p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. Please state clearly in the Planned Course of Study Section that you are applying for <em><strong>EPSRC DTP Engineering & Physical Sciences</strong></em> and in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <em><strong>Antibacterial resistant Dental Implant Engineering</strong></em> as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/staff/152/professor-animesh-jha">Professor Animesh Jha</a> as your proposed supervisor. Please state clearly in the Finance section that the funding source you are applying for is <em><strong>EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award 2025/26: Physics & Astronomy.</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>All other Scholarships/Externally Sponsored/Self-Funders</strong></em></p> <p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. Please state clearly in the Planned Course of Study Section that you are applying for <em><strong>PHD Chemical & Process Engineering FT,</strong></em> in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <em><strong>Antibacterial resistant Dental Implant Engineering</strong></em> as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/staff/152/professor-animesh-jha">Professor Animesh Jha</a> as your proposed supervisor and in the finance section, <em><strong>please state clearly the funding source that you are applying for, if you are self-funding or externally sponsored.</strong></em></p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p> <p>Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis.  Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the supervisors for an informal discussion before making a formal application.  We also advise that you apply at the earliest opportunity as the application and selection process may close early, should we receive a sufficient number of applications or that a suitable candidate is appointed.</p> <p>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of Monday 6 January 2025 if applying for the China Scholarship Council-University of Leeds Scholarship, Monday 3 February 2025 if applying for Leeds Doctoral Scholarship or Tuesday 1 April 2025 for Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship.</p> <p>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of Friday 28 February 2025 if applying for EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award:</p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul> <p> </p>

Applicants must hold a 1st class Honours degree in Bachelor or an MSc with Merit/Distinction in one of the Engineering (Medical, Chemical, Mechanical, Materials) disciplines. Dentistry or Orthopaedic graduates with an equivalent bachelor or Master equivalent qualification may also apply.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A highly competitive EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award providing full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (£19,237 in academic session 2024/25) for 3.5 years.  Training and support will also be provided.</p> <p>This opportunity is open to all applicants.  All candidates will be placed into the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award Competition and selection is based on academic merit.</p> <p><strong>Important:</strong> Please note that that the award does <em><strong>not</strong></em> cover the costs associated with moving to the UK.  All such costs (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source. </p> <p>Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA</a> website for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals.</p> <p><strong>Self-Funded or externally sponsored students are welcome to apply.</strong></p> <p><strong>UK</strong> – The <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/138-leeds-doctoral-scholarship-2025-faculty-of-engineering-and-physical-sciences#:~:text=Key%20facts&text=One%20Leeds%20Doctoral%20Scholarship%20is,rata%20for%20part%2Dtime%20study.">Leeds Doctoral Scholarship</a> <strong>(closing date: Monday 3 February 2025)</strong> and <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/234-leeds-opportunity-research-scholarship-2022">Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship</a> <strong>(closing date: Tuesday 1 April 2025)</strong> are available to UK applicants.  <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/60-alumni-bursary">Alumni Bursary</a> is available to graduates of the University of Leeds.</p> <p><strong>Non-UK</strong> – The <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/48-china-scholarship-council-university-of-leeds-scholarships-2021">China Scholarship Council - University of Leeds Scholarship</a> is available to nationals of China <em><strong>(closing date: Monday 6 January 2025)</strong></em>. The <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/73-leeds-marshall-scholarship">Leeds Marshall Scholarship</a> is available to support US citizens. <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/60-alumni-bursary">Alumni Bursary</a> is available to graduates of the University of Leeds.</p> <p>You will be responsible for paying the overtime fee in full in your writing up/overtime year (£320 in Session 2024/25), but the scholarship maintenance allowance will continue to be paid for up to 6 months in the final year of award.</p> <p><em><strong>Important:</strong></em> Please note that that these awards do <em><strong>not</strong></em> cover the costs associated with moving to the UK.  All such costs (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source. </p> <p>Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA</a> website for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals.</p>

<p>For further information about this project, please contact Professor Animesh Jha by email to <a href="mailto:A.Jha@leeds.ac.uk">A.Jha@leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p>For further information about your application, please contact PGR Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a></p>