UCL DIVISION OF SURGERY AND INTERVENTIONAL
SCIENCE
Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences
Tissue Repair and Engineering Centre
PhD Studentship: Development of a 3D compressed collagen model as a
standardised assay for tissue engineered scaffolds - Ref: 1247954
UCL Department / Division: Surgery and Interventional Sciences, Institute of Orthopaedics and
Musculoskeletal Sciences, Tissue Repair and Engineering Centre
Duration of Studentship: 3 years
Stipend: £15,747 per annum
Applications are invited for a prestigious three year PhD studentship funded by an EU 7th Framework
Programme grant, starting Jan 2014 within UCL, School of Life and Medical Sciences, based at the
Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital site,
Stanmore.
The successful applicant will work with a multidisciplinary team under the supervision of Dr Vivek
Mudera and Prof. Robert Brown to produce novel tissue ‘mimics’ based on plastic compressed
collagen model. The project aims to overcome many of the shortfalls of current tissue engineered
materials and the student will help to develop 3D hard and soft tissue equivalents and tissue assay
systems, as well as solving basic questions of the successful molecular and cell mobility through the
tissue constructs towards preclinical testing. The work will involve production and characterisation of
tissue mimics incorporating extracellular matrix proteins; in vitro biochemical evaluation;
physicomechanical determination and imaging of 3D structure.
Applicants should have at least a 2.1 or higher (preferably) in a biological / biochemical / materials
science / tissue engineering discipline or related subject. Relevant laboratory experience is essential.
Knowledge of current cell and tissue engineering concepts and experience of methods in this field
would be advantageous. Good computational and collaborative skills are expected. This is a Europewide collaboration of around 20 partner laboratories.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates from Home and EU only.
Applicants should download the application pack available from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/graduate-study/application-admission and submit a completed UCL Application Form for
Admission as a Graduate Student in hard copy, along with a full CV, references,
transcripts/confirmation of previous awards, UCL disability and ethnic monitoring form, and other
relevant application materials (if applicable) to: Ms Julie Kingsbury, Research Admissions, UCL
Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, 4th Floor, Medical School Building, 74 Huntley Street,
London, WC1E 6AU, UK.
Contact name: Dr Vivek Mudera for further information, or visit the UCL vacancies pages
(http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/jobs/ and click on current employment opportunities at UCL where you can
enter the reference number).
VM Contact details: Tel: +44 (0) 20 88765738; Email: v.mudera@ucl.ac.uk
Closing Date: 29th November 2013 5pm
Interviews will be held during the week beginning 19th December 2013
Studentship Start Date: Late January 2014