[School of Engineering PhD Scholarships] Banking Breath: Biofabrication of Cryopreservable Lung Organoid Disease Models

About the project

About the Project Human lung organoids - miniature, lab-grown models of the human airway - are transforming how we study lung disease and test new treatments. However, their wider use remains hindered by a practical limitation: organoid models must be prepared fresh and kept alive in culture. They cannot be frozen, stored, or shipped, which makes them slow, costly, and hard to standardise across different labs and research sites. This PhD tackles that problem directly. You will help pioneer a new way to preserve lung organoids, through the integration of advanced biomaterials, biofabrication, and cryopreservation technologies - working towards disease models that can be produced, banked, and used on demand, wherever they are needed. You will be jointly supervised by three research groups working at the cutting edge of their fields. Dr Marco Domingos (Royce Institute) leads a team developing biofabricated tissue models for regenerative medicine and disease research. Dr Sandra Vranic (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health) is an expert in human lung organoid biology and pulmonary disease modelling. Professor Matthew Gibson (Manchester Institute of Biotechnology) is a world leader in cryopreservation and ice-protective polymer chemistry. Across the project you will learn to formulate and characterise advanced biomaterials, develop and apply cutting-edge cryopreservation techniques, culture and expose human lung organoids, and employ a multitude of molecular and bioimaging techniques to assess how well your models survive freezing and thawing, and whether they remain useful for studying real lung disease. You will be embedded across three genuinely interdisciplinary research environments, with access to state-of-the-art facilities including the Bioprinting Technology Platform at the Henry Royce Institute and a dedicated cryobiology facility within the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. This project is expected to start in September 2027. Before you apply: We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. How to apply: To be considered for this project you must complete a formal application through our online application portal. If you already have an applicant account this link will directly open an application for PhD School of Engineering Scholarships . If you don’t already have an applicant account, please follow the instructions here. . When applying, please specify the full title and supervisor/s of the project, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. You must also upload a Supporting Statement describing the motivation to apply to the project, your CV and transcripts of awarded and in-progress university qualifications . Please note late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester and central to all our activities. A diverse research community strengthens creativity, productivity and quality, while increasing the societal and economic impact of our work. We welcome applicants from all career paths, backgrounds and sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation or transgender status. We welcome applications from candidates returning to study after a career break or experience in other roles. Flexible study arrangements may be available, including part-time study at 50%, 60% or 80%, subject to the requirements of the project and funder. Eligibility : The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree (or international equivalent) in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit (or international equivalent) in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD. We are looking for an exceptional and ambitious candidate, motivated to work at the interface of engineering, biomaterials, cell biology and cryobiology to develop new models to study human disease and therapies. A background in biosciences, biomedical engineering, stem/cell biology, bioengineering, chemistry or related disciplines is desirable. This project will remain open until filled. If your application is submitted by 1 st November 2026, you can expect a decision by 18 th December 2026. If your application is submitted by 15 th January 2027, you can expect a decision by 30 th March 2027. Self or externally funded students can also be considered for this project. FSESoE

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