PhD studentship: Engineering Bioinstructive Materials to Guide Immune–Bone Regeneration

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided. 

Overview

Bone regeneration relies on more than bone growth; it depends on a complex dialogue between immune and skeletal cells. When this communication falters, healing slows or fails. This PhD will explore how mechanical and topographical cues such as stiffness, nano-roughness, and viscoelasticity govern immune–bone interactions through mechanotransduction pathways. 

The goal is to design bio-instructive materials that actively direct immune and bone cells toward regeneration. These will be characterised using AFM and rheology, followed by immune–osteogenic co-culture studies to evaluate mechanotransductive signalling. The resulting data will inform mathematical models linking material mechanics to biological responses, enabling the sustainable design of next-generation regenerative materials. 

This interdisciplinary project combines mechanical, materials, and biomedical engineering, offering training across fabrication, nanomechanical analysis, and computational biology. It contributes to more predictive and reproducible approaches in regenerative medicine, reducing reliance on animal models and advancing mechanobiology-informed materials design. 

We seek a motivated, creative, and curious PhD candidate excited to bridge disciplines and co-develop this research. You will join a collaborative and internationally active Regenerative Engineering Group, with scope to shape the project according to your strengths. 

Essential skills and qualities: 

• Degree in Mechanical, Materials, or Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. 
• Interest in biomaterials, mechanobiology, or modelling. 
• Familiarity with computational tools (Matlab, Python, or finite element analysis). 
• Analytical thinking and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

Desirable: 

• Experience in biomaterials fabrication or characterisation (AFM, rheology, microscopy) 
• Interest in cell–material interactions or immune signalling 

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

1st October 2026

Award Duration

4 Years

Application Closing Date

18th February 2026 

Sponsor

EPSRC   

Supervisors

Dr. Ana Ferreira-Duarte  

Eligibility Criteria

We are adopting a contextual admissions process. This means we will consider other key competencies and experience alongside your academic qualifications. An example can be found here . 

A minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project is our standard entry, however we place value on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent Analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. A Masters qualification may not be required if you have a minimum 2:1 degree or can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project. If you have alternative qualifications or experience, please contact us to discuss flexibilities and request an exemption.  

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills. International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme ) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How To Apply

Please read and complete this document as your Personal statement, and upload this with your application. Applications which do not include this document will not be considered. Further details can be found here . 

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal  

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’. 

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study: 

• search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8090F 
• select ‘‘PhD Mechanical Engineering (full time) - 8090' as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section: 

• a ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) – Use this template . 
• the studentship code DLA2619 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field. 
• when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.    

You must submit one application per studentship; you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application. 

Contact Details

For more details on the project topic, please contact Dr Ana Ferreira Duarte (Ana.Ferreira-Duarte@newcastle.ac.uk ). You can also contact: doctoral.awards@ncl.ac.uk for independent advice on your application.