About the project
This project will design and validate an artificial oral environment for the physiological simulation and mechanistic study of enamel loss through erosion, abrasion and a synergistic combination of both.
Current in vitro erosion models are typically static or semi-dynamic, relying on simple immersion protocols that fail to replicate the complex, time-dependent physicochemical processes that govern enamel loss under fluctuating fluid flow, chemical challenge, and mechanical stress. There is a critical need for a physiologically relevant, modular artificial environment that simulates the normal salivary flow, the time-resolved acid exposure representative of dietary intake, the abrasion from brushing and food consumption and the cyclical nature of erosion–remineralisation of enamel.
The project will design and validate an artificial oral environment to enable the physiological simulation and mechanistic study of enamel loss through erosion, abrasion and a synergistic combination of the two. It will use a combination of correlative 3D imaging, elemental mapping and surface metrology techniques to provide an enhanced understanding of the surface and subsurface changes occurring to the enamel.
This project is part of the Advancing Translation of Oral Health Research, a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA) in collaboration with Haleon. This unique collaboration spans five leading UK universities, providing students with opportunities to conduct cutting-edge oral health research while gaining valuable industry experience. The programme spans four years and includes comprehensive training in oral health research and transferable skills, preparing graduates for successful careers in academia, industry, or the public sector. Our vision is to promote an interconnected network between academia and industry through state-of-the-art interdisciplinary studentships where multi-partner co-operation will facilitate a broad range of expertise that will develop world-class PhD students.
The IDLA programme spans four years and will provide a range of training opportunities to give the students a broad and comprehensive understanding of how research and development (R&D) works in a multinational consumer healthcare company, underpinned with expert technical training across a wide range of disciplines. In addition you'll receive comprehensive training in oral health research methods and aligned experimental techniques, with a focus on transferable skills to prepare you for successful careers in academia, industry, or the public sector.
In addition to the supervisory team from the University of Southampton, the project benefits from the expertise of the following external supervisors:
- Dr Behrad Mahmoodi - Haleon
- Abish Stephen - Queen Mary University of London
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
