PhD in Nanotechnology in UK | PhD in Nanomedicine

Details of PhD study in Nanotechnology and Nanoscience

Our doctoral research students draw on the academic expertise of staff researching in the fiends of nanotechnology and nanoscience, and are based alongside a range of applied biomedical scientists, both research staff and fellow research students.

Students are part of a thriving research culture that undertakes international collaborations and delivers high impact change to local and national environments.

As one of our team you will be providing solutions to emerging global health and environmental priorities, with membership offered across a number of relevant research groups and centres, notably the Centre for Lifelong Health or the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices.

We welcome approaches for doctoral research study to work alongside our expert teams. Our recent research has included work in:

• nanomedicine 
• nanophysics
• nanostructured adsorbent and smart polymer materials for biocompatibility 
• nanoparticle-based drug delivery and polymer drug delivery systems
• encapsulation of therapeutically active molecules 
• nanomaterials for remediation
• nanoparticles as catalyst
• photo-dynamic nanoparticles
• nano-plastic pollution 
• miniaturised analytical systems – microfluidics, microarrays, sensors, diagnostic systems, and biosensors.
• nanomaterials in composite polymer materials
• nanotechnologies in food packaging and sensor systems 
• synthetic biomimetic nano-structured biomaterials 
• nanoparticle-based combination therapy
• carbon nanotubes and biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair
• nanoparticle synthesis (Dry pyrolysis, functional particles, morphologies)
• optoelectronic nanomaterials 

Research supervision for your PhD programme

You will benefit from research supervision comprising two or maximum three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism one of those supervisors may be from another school, another research institution, or an external partner from biomedical industries or health practices. 

You will identify your potential supervisor from the early stages of application and they will usually then support you throughout your programme of study, helping you carry out your research interests, guiding your learning of rigorous research methods and preparing you for the next stage of your career.

You should consider the staff listed below and contact one of them with a short draft research proposal identifying your suitability for supervision from that person's research specialism.

Research skills and research training

The independent research programme is balanced and enhanced with a range of support from our academic community. You and your fellow postgraduate researchers will have the opportunity to attend and present at regular seminar sessions with guests from across the world of applied health science. 

There are opportunities to develop skills towards your PhD and prepare for life beyond it. These might include writing skills and project management, digital storytelling, bid writing or developing a public profile. Read more about our doctoral training provision.

Postgraduate degree resources for cancer biology students

You will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities on the Moulsecoomb Campus, including biochemical laboratories, microscopy laboratories, a dedicated imaging suite with optical and scanning electron microscopes, the Brighton integrated genomics facility and cell culture facilities.

You will benefit from access to international research resources, including the university’s Online Library and its connected services to national and international collections.

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Our researchers are internationally recognised with their research making a significant contribution to the latest UK government research assessment exercise (REF 2021): 80 per cent of our research outputs, 89 per cent of our impact and 100 per cent of our environment were classified as either internationally excellent or world leading. 

Research centres for biomedical sciences 

The University of Brighton has a system of research centres and groups, Centres of Research and Knowledge Exchange Excellence (COREs) and Research Excellence Groups (REGs) which allow researchers across the university to share work-in-progress, come together to plan future developments in research, and invite external researchers and biomedical professionals to present and meet.

Our PhD students working in cancer research / cancer biology are usually members of one or both of our research centres and may also be associated with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Centre for Lifelong Health

The research Centre for Lifelong Health is proud of its multi- interdisciplinary approach to understanding the mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of a range of diseases/disorders and the influence that the natural ageing process has on these conditions.  It has international expertise in the areas of ageing, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, hearing, HIV and musculo-skeletal disorders. With a particular focus on the science associated with healthy ageing, resilience and long-standing research into the relationship between stress and cancer, the centre supports work into the mechanisms and prevention of disease as well as medicines and their use and integrated technologies.

Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices

The research Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices focuses on scientific knowledge, diagnostics and treatments based on tissue repair across priority areas in neurodegenerative diseases and sensory dysfunctions, diabetes, wound healing, cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal diseases.

There are also a number of smaller-scale Research Excellence Groups that our PhD biomedical science researchers have joined and benefitted from:

• Applied Chemical Sciences Research Excellence Group
• Care, Health and Emotional Wellbeing Research Excellence Group
• Public Health and Health Conditions Research Excellence Group

Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)

Our supervision in all medical sciences is in close collaboration with colleagues at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). Supervisory teams can and often do include members of BSMS. Applications from those primarily supervised through BSMS still apply to the University of Brighton, and PhD and MD students at BSMS are awarded a joint degree from the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. Research at BSMS spans basic science through to clinical projects, medical ethics and social science, offering a wide and exciting range of possibilities for postgraduate students.

Our applied science research is based at the university's recently redeveloped Moulsecoomb campus with world-class laboratory facilities and a thriving, welcoming research community.

Supervisors in nanotechnology research