Bioengineering

Research Theme

Novel Computing and Beyond CMOS Hardware

Sensor Signal Procesing

UK Nationals Only

Aim

Our goal is to develop DNA-nanostructure-based reconfigurable electronics that can be used for construction of adaptive information processing platforms.

Objectives

1. Use a chain of a DNA nanostructures to form a conductive path between two electrodes. The technical challenge here is rendering the DNA-based network conductive while retaining the addressability of individual components. Extend the previous result to more complex geometries with multiple electrodes and diverse paths. Technical challenge: exercising precise control over the assembly of the components.
2. Demonstrate the capability to dynamically disassemble and reassemble connections, in response to an electrical/electrochemical/biomolecular trigger. Technical challenge: design of the trigger mechanism.
3. Harness the capabilities of our platform to implement learning. Technical challenge: design of the learning mechanism.

Description

Our ultimate goal is to build an adaptive bioelectrochemical network that can learn, with inputs provided either by electrical stimulation or biochemical signals. You will undertake a literature review covering the topics of DNA nanotechnology, biomolecular computing, nanofabrication, and techniques for electrochemically interfacing with DNA-based systems. The research will begin with the use of DNA nanostructures to build a self-assembling conductive pathway between two electrodes, before moving on to more complex architectures involving more nodes and edges. The next priority will be demonstration of disassembly and reassembly of this system in response to biomolecular and/or electrical triggers. This will lay the foundation for an intelligent, adaptive system that is capable of learning.

The research is interdisciplinary and draws on the expertise of the academic supervisors in bioengineering, particularly Dr Katherine Dunn, who has undertaken numerous projects at the interface between electronics and biology. 

Industry Partner

This project is supported by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent in a relevant subject (biological sciences, physical sciences or engineering). Must have good practical/experimental skills and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research.

Full funding is available for this project

Smart Electrolytes for Next-Generation Zinc-Ion Batteries

How do we build grid batteries that are cheap, safe and made from abundant
materials?

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are a promising answer – zinc is low-cost, non-toxic and works
in water-based electrolytes. But current ZIBs still suffer from limited lifetime and
efficiency because the electrolyte, cathode and their interface are not optimised
together.

This PhD will tackle that challenge head-on. You will design “smart” aqueous or gel
electrolytes and matched cathode coatings that work as a single system to:
• control how Zn2+ is solvated and transported,
• suppress dendrites and cathode dissolution, and
• build stable, self-healing interphases for long-life cycling.
Working jointly between the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, you
will combine:
• Molecular simulations (to see how different salts and additives organise around
Zn2+),
• Materials synthesis and coating design, and
• Full electrochemical testing in coin cells.
 

By the end of the project, you will have created and tested prototype zinc-ion cells with
significantly improved performance, and developed design rules that can be applied
across future grid-scale storage technologies.
 

Training and environment
You will be based in the School of Engineering at UoE, with access to:
• Advanced electrochemical testing facilities
• Battery fabrication labs
• Materials characterisation (XRD, SEM/TEM, spectroscopy)
 

You will also work closely with Prof Biggs’s group at HWU, gaining complementary
expertise in interfacial engineering and simulation. The project includes opportunities
to present at international conferences and to collaborate with industrial and academic
partners.

Selection process 

The application and selection process has two stages: 

1. Initial technical interview (by supervisors) 

• We will shortlist from the applications received and invite at least one candidate for an online interview before 30 January 2026.
• This interview will assess your academic background, technical skills and motivation for the project.
• Following this, we will nominate one candidate to ERPE for consideration. 

2. ERPE panel interview 

• Nominated candidates will be invited to a second, competitive interview with an ERPE panel in the weeks commencing 16 or 23 February 2026.

• Final outcomes will be communicated no later than 4 March 2026.

  Start date: September 2026 

  How to apply:
  Please do not submit a full PhD application at this stage.
  Instead, email the following as a single PDF to Dr Peisan (Sharel) E (sharel.e@ed.ac.uk):
  • A CV (max 2–3 pages), including degree classifications (or predicted grades), relevant
  projects and publications (if any).
  • A 1-page cover letter explaining:
   -why you are interested in zinc-ion batteries and this specific project;
  - how your background meets the essential/desirable criteria;
  - whether you would in principle be willing to be considered for a switch of  principal
  - supervisor to HWU if offered an HWU-funded studentship.

  Please also provide contact details for two academic referees

Application deadline for initial consideration:

We encourage applications as soon as possible and no later than before 23 January 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to arrange interviews.

Essential Experience: 

• BSc and/or Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence
• a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent)
• Excellent spoken and written English and good communication skills • Experience using modelling and simulation techniques
• Literature surveys, documentation and reporting

This studentship is funded through the ERPE Joint PhD Studentship scheme. 

• Duration: 42 months (3.5 years)
• Stipend: Enhanced above standard UKRI rate
• Research & Training Grant: £5,000 total (for research costs, travel, training)
• Tuition fees: Covered at the home-fee rate Important: 

This is a competitive funding opportunity. ERPE has selected more projects than there are studentships available, so a studentship is not guaranteed even if you are nominated by the supervisors. Because of the balance of UoE- and HWU-funded studentships in this call, it is possible that a successful candidate may be offered an HWU-funded studentship instead of a UoE-funded one, in which case the principal supervisor would transfer to Prof Biggs at HWU. Candidates will be asked whether they are willing to be considered for such a supervision switch as part of the selection process.

***Open to candidates with UK “home” fee status only. This normally includes UK nationals and applicants with settled or pre-settled status, or indefinite leave to remain, who have been ordinarily resident in the UK/EU/EEA for at least 3 years.***

Further information and other funding options.

• Diploma in Project Management - Dublin Business School, 2010
• PhD Biomedical Engineering, University of Limerick, 2009
• BEng Mechanical Engineering, University of Limerick, 2002
• National Certificate Mechanical Engineering, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, 1999

• Senior Lecture, August 2018 - Present
• Lecture, January 2018 - July 2018
• Chancellor's Fellow, January 2013 - December 2017
• IRCSET/Marie-Curie Research Fellowship, (Phase 2) National University of Ireland Galway 2012 - 2013
• IRCSET/Marie-Curie Research Fellowship, (Phase 1) Imperial College London 2010 - 2012
• Postdoctoral Researcher - Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Limerick 2009 - 2010
• International collaboration - University of Pittsburgh, USA (3 months) 2005

• PhD Biomedical Engineering, University of Durham, 1999
• BSc Mechanical Engineering, University of Durham, 1993
• MSc Bioengineering, University of Strathclyde, 1994

• Member, Optical Society of America
• Member, Society of Applied Spectroscopists
• Fellow of the Society of Biology
• Member, European Society for Biomaterials
• Active member, Orthopaedic Research Society

• Director of the BBSRC Synthetic Biology Network on Standardisation
• US-UK Fulbright Commission, Distinguished Scholars Award, University of California Berkeley, 2003
• EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship, 2004-2009
• Royal Academy of Engineering, Global Research Award, University of California Berkeley, 2003

Consulting Engineer

</div> </h3><p>You can watch this video on <a href="https://media.ed.ac.uk/media/Martin+ReekieA+Consulting+engineer/1_r27eka1j" title="Dr Martin Reekie, Consulting Engineer" target="_blank">Media Hopper</a> or on <a href="https://youtu.be/qtbpz3E-O9A" title="Dr Martin Reekie, Consulting Engineer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</p>

http://www.homepages.ed.ac.uk/ssmith13/

School Roles:

• Deputy Director of Learning and Teaching - Student Experience

• Year Coordinator for 4th Year Electronics and Electrical Engineering degree programmes

Research Interests:

• Microelectronic test and measurement
• MEMS and microsystems design, integration test and packaging
• Biosensors, bioelectronics, and biomedical microsystems
• Microfluidic design and manufacturing

Recent Activity:

General Chair of the 2020 IEEE 33rd International Conference on Microelectronic Test Structures (ICMTS)

Research Article: E. O. Blair, A. Buchoux, A. Tsiamis, C. Dunare, J.R.K Marland, M.E. Gray, J.G. Terry, S. Smith, and A.J. Walton; "Test Structures for Developing Packaging for Implantable Sensors," in IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 224-231, May 2020, doi: 10.1109/TSM.2020.2987134.

Research Article: J.R.K. Marland, F. Moore, C. Dunare, A. Tsiamis, E. González-Fernández, E.O. Blair, S. Smith, J.G. Terry, A.F. Murray, and A. J. Walton; "Optimization of Nafion Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Design and Microfabrication," in IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 196-201, May 2020, doi: 10.1109/TSM.2020.2983875.

Review Article: Gamal W., Wu H., Underwood I., Jia J., Smith S., Bagnaninchi P. O. (2018). Impedance-based cellular assays for regenerative medicine. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 373:20170226. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0226.

• PhD, The University of Edinburgh, Title: "Sheet Resistance and Electrical Linewidth Test Structures for Semiconductor Process Characterisation", 2003, EPSRC funded project.
• B.Eng. (Hons.), Electronics and Electrical Engineering (Microelectronics), The University of Edinburgh, 1997

• Member of the Technical Programme Committee, IEEE International Conference on Microelectronic Test Structures (ICMTS)
• Conference co-chair and committee member, Symposium on Design, Test Integration and Packaging of MEMS and MOEMS (DTIP)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, The University of Edinburgh, 2013
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, 2013
• Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Young Academy of Scotland, 2012-2017
• Senior Member of the IEEE since 2012
• Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology since 1997

• Course organiser - Biosensors 4 (ELEE11094) and Biosensors MSc (PGEE11041)
• Course organiser - Biosensor Instrumentation 5 (ELEE11076) and Biosensors and Instrumentation (PGEE11040)
• Course organiser - Digital System Design 4 (ELEE10007) and Digital System Design MSc (PGEE10008)
• Lab coordinator for Microelectronics 3 (ELEE09021)