Event Overview
Biomaterials Beyond the Bench is a dedicated industry day for PhD researchers designed to make the transition from research to industry, government or the regulatory sector clearer. For the first time, the UK Society for Biomaterials, IOM3 Biomedical Materials Division, the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society and the RSC Biomaterials Group are coming together to connect researchers directly with employers, professional bodies, regulators and government partners.
The event will help you understand how your research skills can translate into careers across the biomaterials, tissue engineering and medical-device sectors, and provide a practical understanding of the frameworks that can support growth through your early career.
What is the current need?
Biomaterials/Tissue Engineering PhDs graduate with deep technical expertise but often with limited exposure to the regulatory, quality, and professional frameworks that govern careers in industry, government and regulatory bodies. Many encounter unfamiliar territory only after applying for their first role: what a notified body does, how ISO 13485 shapes day-to-day work, or why professional accreditation can be the deciding factor between two equally strong CVs for an industry role. At the same time, the biomaterials/tissue engineering and medical device sector is growing and actively seeking interdisciplinary talent, but the route from postgraduate research into that workforce is rarely made explicit. The biomaterials sector shows annual growth of around 12%, with over 148,000 professionals currently employed and roughly 8,700 new hires in the past year (StartUs Insights, 2025).
How is this issue being addressed by this event?
For the first time, UKSB, IOM3 Biomedical Materials Division, the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society and the RSC Biomaterials Group, are joining together to run a single, coordinated industry day for biomaterials and tissue engineering PhDs. This event responds to the identified gap by bringing industry, professional bodies and other key partners directly into conversation with the researchers who will shape the sector’s future.
Key Aims of this event
This industry day demystifies the transition from biomaterials/tissue engineering PhD to industry career, connecting researchers directly with employers, professional societies regulatory and government partners. It builds practical professional literacy, surfaces real employer expectations, and showcases accreditation and membership routes across professional bodies, moving those societies from parallel, disconnected offers into a coordinated, collective commitment to early-career researchers
What will you gain from the day?
By attending, you will:
- Gain a clearer understanding of career opportunities across industry, government and regulatory organisations.
- Hear what employers look for when recruiting PhD graduates.
- Develop your understanding of the regulatory and quality frameworks governing the sector.
- Explore professional membership, registration and accreditation pathways.
- Build connections with employers, professional societies and fellow researchers.
- Begin developing a personal professional development plan to support your next career step.
Who should attend?
This event is exclusively for PhD researchers working in biomaterials, tissue engineering and related fields who would like to understand their career options and prepare for a move beyond academic research.
Places are strictly limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Event details
Date: Monday 5 October 2026
Time: 11:00–16:00
Location: Royce Hub Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
Catering: A light lunch will be provided.
To attend, please complete the registration form using this link.
Event Partners
This event has been made possible by the support UKSB, IOM3 Biomedical Materials Division, the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society and the RSC Biomaterials Group
October 5 2026
