... If the project was, as I suspect, advertised as "developing a novel technique" or something along those lines, then it would likely also state that the lab has already pieced together the basics of the technique. Assuming that much is true, I'd say the onus really is on the uni to fulfill what they advertised. Did the PhD advertisement lead you into thinking that the technique was at a stage where a PhD student could come along and further develop it? If so, maybe that was misleading on behalf of the uni.