We are currently seeking applicants for a 3.5 year EPSCR-funded PhD studentship in our lab, co-supervised by our collaborators Calum Williams in Physics and Halim Kusumaatmaja at the University of Edinburgh. The project takes inspiration from the trap rim of carnivorous pitcher plants for the design of novel metamaterial-surfaces with autonomous water transport capacity.
Precision control of wetting and liquid flow on surfaces has the potential to transform medical care, save resources, mitigate the effects of climate change and optimise production processes. Engineered surfaces with defined fluid transport properties can revolutionise healthcare applications such as microfluidic point-of-care diagnostics, automated drug delivery, or more efficient wound drainage. Capturing and directing water is essential for fog water harvesting in arid regions. Passive micro-irrigation systems save water and energy while increasing crop yields. Passive fluid transport surfaces can also improve the sustainability of manufacturing processes by optimising the supply of lubricants and extending the lifetime of moving parts.
Metamaterials use engineered structures to achieve functionality that the constituent materials alone cannot provide. Insect-eating pitcher plants have hydrophilic trapping surfaces with extraordinary capacity to transport and direct water. The collar-shaped rim of their pitfall traps features ridges and grooves on two distinct length scales, with the microscale grooves further intersected by acute-angled, overhanging arches. This is a natural metasurface: the anisotropic hierarchical microtopography makes water spread against gravity within milliseconds and form a thin film on which insects aquaplane to their death.
This project systematically investigates how the microtopographical features interact with each other and with the intrinsic hydrophilicity of the surface to determine wetting and fluid flow. By varying feature shape, size and spacing within and beyond the natural parameter space, the student will identify the functional limits of water transport on pitcher plant-inspired metasurfaces. The data generated from this PhD will provide the foundation for the development of computational models that can accurately predict fluid behaviour on hierarchically ridged surfaces, ultimately the first step towards evidence-based precision design of bioinspired metasurfaces with application-optimised fluid transport properties.
The successful candidate will have a Bachelor/Masters degree in Physics, Engineering or Natural Sciences (2.1 or above). Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential. Additional practical research or work experience is an advantage. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, creative and enthusiastic to take on the challenge of experimental interdisciplinary research.
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Dr Ulrike Bauer, email: u.bauer@exeter.ac.uk, to discuss the project before applying.
Application deadline: 8th December 2026
Full project details and how to apply: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=6009