Research Fellow - surface immobilisation and assay development for infection diagnostics

The team, brings together scientists and engineers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), Chemistry and Medicine at the University of Southampton, and at Dstl.

This interdisciplinary project will develop a portable, easy-to-use platform for rapid point-of-care infection diagnostics, based on waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. This will be used for the detection of infection and diagnosis of disease, demonstrating application to clinical samples. The research fellow will be responsible for leading the development of the chemistry to immobilise antibodies, DNA and other biological detection molecules on to the surfaces of disposable waveguide structures. They will also be responsible for leading the development of assay protocols for use with the instrument in surgeries, wards and remote communities and for collaboration with colleagues at Dstl and in Medicine in developing diagnostic applications of the instrument. 

The successful applicant will need to be a creative, capable, and self-motivated scientist with a proven scientific ability and both excellent experimental and team-work skills. They will be responsible for innovating and leading developments in their part of the project whilst working in close collaboration with researchers in the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Faculty of Medicine and at Dstl. 

Candidates should have a PhD* or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in Chemistry or related discipline and to have experience in surface modification chemistry, ideally of glass or oxide surface, and experience of biosensors/medical diagnostics assay development will be desirable.

This project is funded for three years. You are welcome to contact Prof. Phil Bartlett by email at pnb@soton.ac.uk for further information.

*Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

If you need any assistance, please call Elsa Samwell (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2507. Please quote reference 1033018EB on all correspondence.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please note that applications from agencies will not be accepted unless indicated in the job advert.