PhD studentship in molecular interactions between ultra-hydrophobic thyroid/sex hormones and surfaces (Bristol)

The University of Bristol is inviting applications for a funded PhD studentship hosted in the School of Chemistry for molecular interactions between ultra-hydrophobic thyroid/sex hormones and surfaces: enabling the novel U-RHYTHM biomedical technology.


Rhythms characterise all living things, and our physiology can be a considered as a state of continuous dynamic equilibrium. Despite this, almost all clinical tests of human health consist of single time point measurements, which inevitably do not reflect normal and inherent daily or even hourly variation. To overcome this, we have developed a novel microdialysis-based ambulatory technology which allows 24-hour ambulatory, minimally invasive, blood free sampling (URHYTHM, www.u-rhythm.co.uk/; www.designworks.studio/ultradian-u-rhythm).
Using the technique, we have successfully demonstrated the dynamics of adrenal hormones including the stress hormone cortisol in hundreds of human participants (www.ultradian.eu). To broaden the use and impact of the technique, we now wish to investigate the use of U-RHYTHM to understand dynamics of other hormones crucial to normal growth and development and cytokines involved in many inflammatory diseases. Many of these-including sex hormones and thyroid hormones- are ultra-hydrophobic, resulting in their binding to the surface of both our plastic tubing and the U-Rhythm collecting device.

In this project, the student will define the interactions between ultra-hydrophobic sex hormones and thyroid hormones and plastic surfaces and develop a strategy to prevent this binding and allow us to utilise our device in many important clinical conditions. The student will be encouraged to work closely with our clinical teams working on both endocrine and rheumatological/ inflammatory diseases. Amphiphilic polymers and surface functionalisation techniques such as plasma and UV-ozone treatment will be explored to functionalise the polymer/plastic surface to tailor the interactions with the hormones.
The project will be based at the University of Bristol within the School of Chemistry and the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology. The student will also work with our colleagues in the School of Mathematics to learn techniques for the analysis and interpretation of dynamic data and will be encouraged to collaborate with other members of our multidisciplinary team.

Find out more about the opportunity and apply: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/chemistry/Lightman-Everett%20PhD%20studentship.pdf

The application deadline is 2 December 2022.