MRes Synthetic Cell Science

Imperial College London

Explore new technologies and approaches for making synthetic cells and artificial life and undertake training towards a research career where your breakthroughs impact healthcare and industry.

Synthetic Cell Science is an emerging field at the intersection of physical, life, and engineering sciences. This course will equip you with the skills to build synthetic cells – biomimetic nano‑ and micro‑robots assembled from non‑living components that replicate real cellular behaviours such as metabolism, communication, decision‑making, motility, and even evolution.

You will learn to create biodevices ranging from biological circuits to organelles, cells, and tissues, and explore how synthetic cells can revolutionise both fundamental research and applications across therapeutics, agrochemical delivery, diagnostics, regenerative medicine, green biosynthesis, and bioremediation.

Through hands‑on experience you will design, build, and characterise synthetic cells using microfluidics, 3D bioprinting, AI, microscopy, membrane engineering, and other technologies. You will work in world‑class facilities, such as the £200M Molecular Sciences Research Hub and the £5M Advanced Hackspace, and apply your designs to translational challenges, such as delivery in biological systems.

You will develop close links with industry and NGOs, gaining expertise required for further study at PhD level or for a career in industry and the SME sector, where synthetic cell skills are in high demand.

The course begins with a lecture series led by world‑leading experts, covering the fundamentals of synthetic cell science. You will then undertake a hands‑on training project (HackSynCell), followed by a nine‑month independent, original, interdisciplinary research project in Synthetic Cell Science. By the end of the course, you will be ready to lead the next wave of synthetic cell innovation from fundamental discovery to impactful application.