Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in the field of:
- Design, synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials and device coatings
- Bacterial-polymer surface interactions
- Polymer/metallic surface modification strategies for anti-fouling applications
- Next-generation surface disinfectants
Current Research Opportunities
- Biomaterial coatings with lubricious, slippery coatings for improved urinary catheter performance
- Infection-responsive coatings for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections
- Development of carbohydrate-functionalised materials for detection and prevention of medical device-associated infections
- Designing next-generation urinary catheter materials for clean intermittent self-catheterisation through control of the urinary microbiome
Public outreach & key achievements
The research is strongly linked to industrial collaborations built upon Dr. Wylie’s participation in Innovate UK’s ICURe commercialization programme which has led to several prototype materials for infection control: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.112098
Our work has recently received funding from the HEA’s Shared Island Initiative: and https://www.healthestatejournal.com/story/39237/taking-preventative-science-to-a-new-level
Research students
Currently I am part of the supervisory team for 13 PhD students from the UK, Ireland, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and China. Examples of these projects include:
Name: Jasmine Ross
PhD title: Biomaterial coatings with lubricious, slippery coatings for improved urinary catheter performance
Years of Study: 2022-2025
Country: Northern Ireland
Name: Jingyi Xu
PhD title: Self-triggered ionogels for biomedical applications
Years of Study: 2021-2024
Country: China
Name: Mohammad Rabee
PhD title: Triggered drug delivery systems for targeted therapy
Years of Study: 2020-2023
Country: Jordan
Name: Tiancheng Luo
PhD title: Development of anti-infective polymer coatings for medical device applications
Years of Study: 2020-2023
Country: China
Name: Jia Li
PhD title: Multi-Mode Responsive Biomaterials Resistant to Infection
Years of Study: 2019-2022
Country: China
Alumni: Where are they now
Name: Sijin Li
PhD title: Infection-Responsive Biomaterials Capable of Triggered Self-Cleaning
Years of Study: 2018-2021
Country: China
Current position: Lecturer (Education), China Queen’s College