1. www.sspc.ie
Postgraduate Research Opportunity (PhD)
PROJECT TITLE: Novel Technologies and Optimised Formulations for Delivery of Solid
Dispersions of BCS Class II Drugs
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Hot melt extrusion (HME) offers several advantages over
traditional pharmaceutical processing techniques: the process is anhydrous; poorly
compactable materials can be incorporated into tablets; HME has a short residence time; it
enables superior mixing (both distributive and dispersive); it improves the dissolution rate and
the bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs by the formation of solid solutions or solid
dispersions; it allows the production of formulations with controlled, modified, sustained and
targeted release.
The Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC) is a Global Hub of
Pharmaceutical Process Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing, funded by Science
Foundation Ireland and industry, is a unique collaboration between 22 industry partners,
9 research performing organisations and 12 international academic collaborators.
A PhD student will work under the supervision of Prof. C. Higginbotham and Dr. Luke Geever
(AIT) on platform project T8 (WP1-3). The student will undertake tasks associated with WP1-
3 which is concerned with increasing the understanding of pharmaceutical science and
processing so as to manipulate the performance of low solubility drugs in a predictive space
via a Quality by Design (QbD) approach. This study will optimise the processing of BCS class
II drugs via novel hot melt extrusion techniques. The study will involve blending active agents
and melt processable polymers, as well as other functional excipients such as antioxidants,
plasticisers, thermal stabilisers, etc. via twin screw extrusion. The student will investigate the
physicochemical characteristics of the polymers, API and other excipient materials pre- and

2. www.sspc.ie
post-processing using a range of experimental techniques (e.g. thermal analysis, PXRD, DSC,
DVS, FTIR, MFI, Advanced Rheometry, GPC, XRD, Drug dissolution).
Duration of project / Salary scale: €18,000 stipend + full fees per annum for 4 years
Funding Agency: Science Foundation Ireland
Type of degree offered: PhD - Full-Time
Minimum qualifications/experience necessary/any other requirements: The student should
ideally have a B.Sc. in Polymer Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry or a related
discipline.
Informal enquiries to Professor Clement Higginbotham (chigginbotham@ait.ie)
Research Supervisors: Prof. Clement Higginbotham (chigginbotham@ait.ie)
Dr. Luke Geever (lgeever@ait.ie)
Application forms available from Anita Watts, Office of Research, Athlone Institute of
Technology, Tel: 090 64 83061 Email: awatts@ait.ie or from link Download Application
Form on AIT website – Vacancies- Postgraduate Research Opportunities.
Closing date for receipt of completed application forms which must be submitted to Anita
Watts, Office of Research, Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co.
Westmeath is 5.00 pm on Friday, 22nd of May, 2015.