Material changes for a sustainable healthcare system

With growing global recognition of climate change, this PhD is an exciting chance to shape the development of sustainable healthcare systems, helping organisations like the NHS work towards carbon Net-Zero targets, reduce waste and adopt circular economy principles.<br /> <br /> The PhD will be based in the new SUSTAIN facility (Simulation Theatre for Academia and Industry), working with the UK Department of Health and Social Care and leading experts in sustainable healthcare at Brighton & Sussex Medical School. <br /> <br /> The PhD will involve the assessment of emerging healthcare technologies and procedures, using SUSTAIN facility – working to drive change in UK and international practice.<br />

<p style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong>Aim:</strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom:5px">This PhD will explore how sustainable healthcare can be achieved by embedding circular economy principles into the products and processes used within surgery. It will aim to assess how changes in material and design to surgical products and processes can improve sustainability and support a circular economy for healthcare.</p> <p><strong>Objectives:</strong></p> <p>1)           To produce a detailed literature review of initiatives to achieve and assess sustainable healthcare, including methodologies, practical applications, policy and technical aspects related to materials and design practice.</p> <p>2)           To identify high-impact surgical products and processes for assessment within the PhD in collaboration with our clinical partners and HRC network.</p> <p>3)           To perform baseline environmental assessments of selected products and processes leveraging the SUSTAIN facility to conduct simulated procedures with healthcare professionals.</p> <p>4)           To develop proposals for reduced environmental impact in selected products and processes by employing circular economy principles with a focus on materials and design change.</p> <p>5)           To evaluate the proposed changes using the SUSTAIN facility in engagement with healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders.</p> <p>6)           To disseminate work in 1) academic outlets 2) public forums 3) NHS and government policy notes</p> <p><strong>The programme of work will be:</strong></p> <p>Y1: O1 (Literature review), O2 (Stakeholder collaboration to identify products/processes for study), Training secondment (at Brighton+Sussex Medical School)</p> <p>Y2: O3 (Baseline assessments), O4 (Development of sustainable change), Training secondment (Huddersfield National Innovation Healthcare Centre)</p> <p>Y3: O5 (Assessment of proposed changes), O6 (concluding dissemination)</p> <p style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong>Supervisory Team: This PhD will be co-supervised by Leeds and Brighton & Sussex Medical School</strong></p> <p>Prof Culmer and Mr Peckham-Cooper co-lead the Sustainability theme of the NIHR Healthtech Research Centre. They are leading development of SUstainability and Simulation Theatre for Academia and INdustry (SUSTAIN) with the UK Gov Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).</p> <p>Prof. Bhuta is a leading clinical-academic in sustainability, publishing seminal reports on net-zero for healthcare and advising UK government and NHS policy.</p> <p>Drs Mardina and Turnbull will join the supervisory team to build supervisory experience (for academic careers) and impact their considerable expertise in this field.</p> <p><strong>Impact:</strong></p> <p>In the short term, this PhD will develop case studies in conjunction with the SUSTAIN facility that will be integrated into the Department of Health and Social Care’s ‘Design for Life’ framework as Case Studies, providing national exposure to the research work.</p> <p>Longer term, this research will be used to inform NHS policy guidance, particularly in 1) sustainable procurement for NHS Supply Chain and 2) sustainable surgical practice (in conjunction with NHS and surgical colleges). These actions will leverage the UKRI Green Healthcare Hub (led by Prof. Bhuta and with Prof. Culmer as a co-investigator) and the Leeds NIHR HRC network.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:5px"><strong>Supporting Evidence:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Mardina, Z., Turnbull, R.P., Rahimifard, S., Bibb, R. and Culmer, P., 2025. CM3D: A circular materials Multi-Criteria Decision-Making tool for medical devices. Materials & Design, p.114015.</li> <li>Rahimifard, S., Mardina, Z, Culmer, P., 2024. Cleaning up healthcare - a circular economy for medical devices, IM3 Magazine</li> <li>Peckham-Cooper, A. 2023. An Innovation Agency report for the NHSE Sustainable Procurement Team: surgical instrument set rationalisation: understanding the benefits and replicating the process. NHS England Report.</li> <li>Bhuta, M. Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, and UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (2023). Green surgery: Reducing the environmental impact of surgical care. London: UKHACC. https://ukhealthalliance.org/sustainable-healthcare/green-surgery-report/</li> <li>Rizan C, Lillywhite R, Reed M, Bhutta MF. The carbon footprint of products used in five common surgical operations: identifying contributing products and processes. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2023;116(6):199-213. doi:10.1177/01410768231166135</li> </ol>

<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 Mechanical Engineering FT </strong></em>and in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <strong>Material changes for a sustainable healthcare system</strong> as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/staff/279/professor-peter-culmer"><strong>Professor Peter Culmer</strong></a> as your proposed supervisor. <em><strong>Please state in the Finance section that you are applying for the School of Mechanical Engineering Studentship 2026/27 (BSMS).</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>Applications will be considered after the closing date. 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><strong>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of Friday 30 January 2026:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date including grading scheme</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul> <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>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

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>A highly competitive School of Mechanical Engineering Studentship, in collaboration with Brighton and Sussex Medical School, providing the award of full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (£20,780 in academic session 2025/26) for 3.5 years. Training and support will also be provided.<br /> <br /> You will be responsible for paying the overtime fee in full in your writing up/overtime year (£340 in Session 2025/26), but the scholarship maintenance allowance will continue to be paid for up to 6 months in the final year of award.</p> <p>Please note that there is only 1 funded place available to UK applicants only.  If you are successful in securing an academic offer for PhD study, this does not mean that you have been successful in securing an offer of funding.</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>Individuals interested in this project are encouraged to contact Professor Peter Culmer by email to <a href="mailto:P.R.Culmer@leeds.ac.uk">P.R.Culmer@leeds.ac.uk</a> for further information</p> <p>For questions related to the application process and eligibility, please contact PGR Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a></p>