Nigel Groome Studentship: iBIO-Meniscus — Imaging Meniscus Biology for Repair Innovation

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of load-bearing soft tissues such as the meniscus—with parallels in articular cartilage and intervertebral discs—is organised in multiple layers that sustain compressive loads several times body weight yet remain extremely difficult to repair due to their avascular nature. Because function is encoded in ultrastructure, understanding soft-tissue layer biology is crucial.

The meniscus has a sandwich-like architecture: two stiff outer layers provide tensile reinforcement while a compliant porous core dissipates energy through fluid redistribution. Deciphering how living meniscal layers organise, adapt, and maintain hydraulic–mechanical performance is key to enabling effective biological repair and inspiring engineered components such as meniscus-inspired dampers.

This PhD applies a Structure ⇄ Biology ⇄ Mechanics framework to establish a bioinspired design pathway where natural tissue architectures directly inform next-generation engineering solutions.

The overarching aim is to understand the biology and the inter dependence on mechanical loading of the meniscus layers to advance bio-inspired engineering components.  In order to achieve this aim the following three objectives need to be fulfilled, which will form three work packages:

1. Ultrastructure of meniscus layers.

2. Capturing biology of meniscus layers

3. Insight into Layer Function Under Mechanical Loading.

This project builds on strong biomechanics and advanced imaging expertise at Oxford Brookes University, ensuring the methodological rigour required to generate reliable and high-quality data. Structural characterisation will use validated confocal and electron microscopy workflows already established within the Bioimaging Centre and within the Bio Inspired Engineering and Multiphysics lab.

The studentship requires you to undertake up to 6 hrs of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.