Nirmal Raj

Profile

I am a PhD researcher in the School of Dentistry at the University of Leeds, funded by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Scholarship. I completed my BEng in Biomedical Engineering with distinction at REC, Chennai, India, in 2022, during which I developed and patented a biodegradable nanocomposite bone plate. In 2023, I earned an MSc in Biomaterials with distinction, working in the Henry Royce Institute at the University of Manchester, UK.

In 2024, I joined the University of Leeds as a Research Technician in Oral Biology, where I trained and co-supervised undergraduate, MSc, and PhD students on advanced laboratory equipment, including 3D bioprinters, SEM, DSC, profilometers, simulators, and mechanical testing instruments. I also developed and maintained SOPs, managed laboratory operations, and contributed to research projects.

In 2025, I began my PhD within the School of Dentistry. My research is in dental biomaterials and tissue engineering, centred on developing advanced polymer-ceramic scaffolds for regenerative applications. I am particularly interested in how scaffold composition, porosity and mechanical properties influence tissue growth and integration in guided bone regeneration.

I am also involved in undergraduate education and the co-supervision of undergraduate, MSc and PhD research projects. In recognition of my teaching and support for student learning, I was awarded Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

Currently, I tutor first-year MBChB students on a research skills module, guiding a group of medical students through a structured research project. I also host laboratory demonstrations for university and school visitors, and was elected as the postgraduate researcher representative for the Bragg Centre for Materials Research.

Research interests

• 3D Printing
• Biomaterials Characterisation
• Biodegradable nanocomposites
• Bone regeneration
• Scaffold design

Professional memberships

• International Association of Dental Research (IADR)
• British Society for Oral and Dental Research (BSODR)
• United Kingdom Society for Biomaterials (UKSB)
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Qualifications

• MSc Biomaterials Science (Distinction)
• BEng Biomedical Engineering (Distinction)
• AFHEA

Research groups and institutes

• Biomaterials and tissue engineering