Advancing cardiovascular health through point-of-care 3D printing of personalised polypills - EPSRC DLA STUDENTSHIP

Applications are invited for one full-time PhD studentship within the Mechanical Engineering Department funded by the EPSRC doctoral training programme. The PhD studentship is for a period of 42 Months effective 1 October 2026. The successful applicant will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £22780 plus payment of their full-time Home fees.

Cardiovascular diseases remain a major global health concern, and many patients depend on multiple daily medications. However, traditional tablet manufacturing offers limited flexibility to tailor treatments or combine drugs efficiently. This PhD project aims to overcome these challenges by developing sustainable, point-of-care 3D printing of personalised cardiovascular polypills, with the goal of simplifying treatment and improving patient adherence.

This project is a collaboration between Brunel University London’s Engineering Department and Kingston University’s School of Pharmacy, bringing together expertise in pharmaceutical science, digital design, and materials and manufacturing engineering. You will join a supportive, interdisciplinary research community at the forefront of healthcare innovation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

Using cutting-edge pharmaceutical printing technologies, you will fabricate and evaluate 3D-printed polypills designed to improve treatment adherence and therapeutic outcomes. Training opportunities within this project include advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, bioink development, dissolution testing, and advanced materials and drug-release characterisation, as well as high-impact communication skills. These experiences will prepare you for careers across academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or the healthcare sector.

This interdisciplinary project is ideal for candidates from pharmacy, chemical engineering, biomedical sciences, materials science, or related disciplines, particularly those interested in personalised medicine, green pharmaceutical innovation, and advanced manufacturing.

If you are passionate about driving innovation in healthcare and contributing to sustainable, patient-centred solutions, this project offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while developing cutting-edge skills at the forefront of pharmaceutical science and advanced manufacturing.

Please contact Dr Bin Zhang at bin.zhang@brunel.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the studentship.

Eligibility

Applicants will have or be expected to receive a minimum 2:1 or 1st class degree in an Engineering, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, Medical/Bioengineering, Computer Science, Design, Mathematics, Physics or a related discipline. A Masters qualification is an advantage but not essential.

How to apply

Please e-mail your application comprising of all the documents listed below to studentships@brunel.ac.uk by Noon on 24th March 2026.

 Your up-to-date CV;

  • A research proposal of 2000 words setting out your project ideas 
  • A one A4 page personal statement setting out why you are a suitable candidate (i.e.: your skills and experience);
  • A copy of your degree certificate(s) and transcript (s);
  • Names and contact details for two academic referees;
  • Evidence of English language capability to IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all sections), if applicable
  • Submission of Equal Opportunities Declaration Form.

Interviews will take place on 14th April 2026

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Bin Zhang - Dr Bin Zhang is a Lecturer in Additive Manufacturing in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Brunel University London. She obtained her PhD from University College London, focusing on 3D printing drug-loaded biocomposite bone tissue scaffolds. Dr Zhang was a visiting scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University in the USA, where she researched patterned surfaces with controllable drug doses and fabricated microneedle sensors using 3D printing. Before joining Brunel, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of East Anglia and the University of Hertfordshire, specialising in 3D printing of micro medical devices, drug-loaded devices, and medical training models. Her research focuses on developing functional engineered tissues for applications in tissue regeneration, drug testing, and disease modelling, with an additional interest in organ-on-a-chip engineering. Her research group aims to create functional engineered tissue platforms by developing novel biomaterials and biofabrication techniques, integrating 3D printing and drug-loading approaches to enhance the functionality of engineered tissues and organoids for repairing damaged tissues and organs, such as in wound healing and bone regeneration. Please feel free to reach out for collaboration opportunities, student positions, or other research opportunities. Qualified applications for PhD, Postdoc, and Visiting Scholar positions are welcome through the following channels: Brunel-CSC Scholarship (for Chinese students and scholars): Please reach out before December regarding a PhD position for the following year. Scholars may apply at any time. Commonwealth PhD Scholarship (for students from Commonwealth countries): Please reach out before October regarding a PhD position for the following year. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships: Calls open in April and close in September. The Royal Society Newton International Fellowships: Calls open in January and close in March. UK EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowships: Please refer to the relevant UK EPSRC website for the application deadlines.

Related Research Group(s)

Additive Manufacturing and 4D Printing

Additive Manufacturing and 4D Printing - The Additive Manufacturing and 4D Printing Research Group seeks to understand the fundamental aspects and applications of programmable materials through layer-wise methods of production.