Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Development and Application of Label-free Super-resolution Biomedic

Fully-funded PhD Studentship in Development and Application of Label-free Super-resolution Biomedical Imaging techniques

Chemistry

Location:  Highfield Campus
Closing Date:   Monday 30 May 2016
Reference:  700616EB

PhD Supervisor: Dr Sumeet Mahajan

 PhD Description:  This project is in the exciting interdisciplinary area of label-free microscopy and its applications in biomedicine. Current techniques used in bioimaging either do not give molecule (chemical) specific information or rely on tagging fluorophores/dyes to enable visualisation. Thus they are invasive and not readily adaptable to live imaging. Moreover, they suffer from the constraints of conventional microscopy such as the spatial resolution which is limited by the diffraction limit. In this project the aim is to develop vibrational ‘chemically selective’ imaging techniques and achieve sub-diffraction limited resolution. This will then be applied to a very pertinent problem in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Essentially, evidence suggests that with age and also in neurodegenerative diseases the transport of vesicles (which carry chemically encoded information) is impeded. These vesicles have sizes which cannot be resolved by conventional diffraction limited microscopy. Moreover, there is diversity in their chemical composition which also cannot be currently probed in intact cells. Therefore a chemically selective nanoscopic imaging technique will be a huge advance.

 The above studentship project is funded jointly through a European Research Council (ERC) grant (http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193564_en.html) and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Southampton.  The student will join a highly interdisciplinary project team and have access to state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories of the group as well that available around the University. The BioNanoPhotonics group led by Dr. Mahajan (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/chemistry/about/staff/sm13g12.page?) has its labs located in the Institute of Life Sciences (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/ifls), which promotes interdisciplinary research across the University. Overall the student can expect to master physical concepts especially in optics and microscopy and develop a solid contextual understanding for applying them to biomedical problems. They will indeed also learn a variety of microscopic, spectroscopic and data analysis techniques and develop strong problem solving skills, learning to apply research ideas for practical implementation in the lab.

 The project is fully funded for 3 years and welcomes applicants from UK and EU nationals who have or expect to obtain a first or at least an upper second class degree in Physics or Physical Chemistry or allied subjects/relevant disciplines. Applicants with a Masters degree in Optics or Photonics with experience relevant to this project are particularly encouraged to apply. Enthusiasm to work in a highly dynamic and interdisciplinary environment with a strong interest in optics or microscopy is vital. The funding will cover fees and a stipend at current research council rates of £ £14,296 per annum.

 Due to funding restrictions this position is only open to UK/EU applicants

 Applications for an MPhil/PhD in Chemistry should be submitted online at:

https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Login?pos=4990&majr=4990&term=201617#_ga=1.58138985.2120898106.1412059827

 General enquiries should be made to Dr Sumeet Mahajan at s.mahajan@soton.ac.uk.   Any queries on the application process should be made to pgafnes@soton.ac.uk

Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, and the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified