University of Surrey PhD in Physics 2026

Are you fascinated by working at the intersection of physics and synthetic biology? This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to develop autonomous microswimmers, which are bioinspired structures at the micrometre scale that can propel themselves through fluids, mimicking natural swimming organisms such as bacteria forms.

Using biological building blocks found in cells and encapsulating them inside vesicles, you will engineer and investigate synthetic microswimmers capable of generating propulsion forces, uncovering the new fundamental principles that govern their movement. The physics of swimming on these small length scales is fundamentally different to that when we swim. By characterizing their swimming dynamics and the mechanical deformations caused by the encapsulated active biomolecules, you will explore ways to control their motion in 3D space.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineOctober 6, 2025
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Surrey
• City to studyLondon
• School to studyUniversity of Surrey
• Course to studyPhysics
• Eligible CountryUnited Kingdom

Benefits

Full tuition & UKRI standard stipend.

Requirements

• Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. See UKCISA for further information.
• Be a highly motivated and skilled candidate with a background in physics, biophysics, biological physics, or bioengineering.
• This PhD project will primarily focus on experimental research, which will include data analysis and there is scope for modelling of the swimmers.
• Have a passion for interdisciplinary research at the intersections of physics and biology. 
• Meet the minimum requirements for our PhD programme.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

Applications should be submitted via the Physics PhD programme page. In place of a research proposal you should upload a document stating the title of the project that you wish to apply for and the name of the relevant supervisor.

For more details, visit University of Surrey Scholarship webpage