Multimodal biophotonic technologies: Powering a revolution in diabetes research Ref: 5086

Supervisors

Ben Sherlock: Lecturer in Translational Biophotonics

Ben Gardner: Lecturer Translational Biophotonics (E&R)

Francesca Palombo: Professor of Biomedical Spectroscopy

Location: Stretham Campus, Exeter

About the Project

Diabetes is a debilitating condition that impacts the lives of millions of people around the world. Despite a global research effort, the negative effects of consistently elevated blood sugars on the cells and tissues of our bodies are poorly understood. The absence of this understanding greatly limits our ability to develop more effective treatments for potentially lethal side effects of diabetes e.g. heart attacks caused by the stiffening of the coronary arteries. The low sensitivity and resolution of clinical technologies used for the study of diabetes is a primary reason why generations of researchers have struggled to unpick how it affects our bodies. Innovative new technologies are urgently required that can analyse cells and tissues with high accuracy and resolution and simultaneously probe changes in structure (how are they put together), chemistry (what are they made of) and biomechanics (how stiff are they).

This project will involve driving the development of a hybrid, biophotonics based instrument that uses the combination of three cutting-edge research instruments to provide an unprecedented insight into the damaging effects of diabetes. Biophotonics is a highly dynamic field in which light-based tools and technologies are developed and applied to address the most challenging questions in biology and medicine. In this project, you will have the unique opportunity to combine the collective strengths of three leading biophotonic technologies; multiphoton microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Brillouin scattering to discover powerful new insights into diabetes driven changes in biological systems such as the extracellular matrix of blood vessels and the cell membranes of red blood cells.

Multiphoton microscopy uses ultrafast pulses of laser light to excite nonlinear optical processes in the sample that encode multiscale information on the sample structure. Raman spectroscopy is an optical technique that provides a real-time chemical fingerprint of the sample composition, allowing molecular specific monitoring of changes due to disease from the nanoscale up to bulk (several cm’s). Finally, Brillouin scattering is an exciting new technique that exploits the interaction between light and sound waves within a sample to make a direct measurement of the sample’s stiffness and viscosity. All three techniques acquire data without damaging the sample, meaning the same sample to be measured many times allowing the time-evolution of complex biophysical processes to be monitored in ways that until now, have not been possible. 

About the candidate

The ideal candidate will have an interest in tackling important problems in biophysics and a background in either Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or Applied Biological Sciences. Although grounded in the applications of advanced biophotonic technologies, the project will have a strong element of interdisciplinarity, and offer the successful candidate abundant opportunities to collaborate with world leading researchers in other departments at the University of Exeter, and at university and research institutions around the world.

BioPhysics at Exeter

The Biophysics group at Exeter are at the forefront of biomedical translation in the UK. This project will utilise state of the art facilities such as CONTRAST, the UK’s first user-access coherent Raman scattering facility which aims to accelerate the translation of this cutting-edge technology into healthcare applications. As well as RaNT, a multimillion-pound research program pioneering a non-invasive technique that aims to reduce or completely remove the need for cancer surgery, providing rapid, pain-free detection and therapy, right at the patient’s bedside. Other facilities comprise a range of biophotonic methods all based on vibrational spectroscopy including Brillouin and infrared technologies, which can unravel physical and chemical properties of samples and are amenable to life science and healthcare applications.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a MSc in a relevant subject and a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or Applied Biological Sciences. We are seeking a motivated individual with he ideal candidate will have an interest in tackling important problems in biophysics. 

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile A: view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

How to apply

In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents. 

• CV

• Letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).

• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)

• Names of two referees familiar with your academic work. You are not required to obtain references yourself. We will request references directly from your referees if you are shortlisted.

• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

To Apply and for Further information please see this link: Award details Funding and scholarships for students University of Exeter

The closing date for applications is midnight on 3rd July 2024. Interviews will be held virtually in July.

If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk or phone 0300 555 60 60 (UK callers) +44 (0) 1392 723044 (EU/International callers) Project-specific queries should be directed to the main supervisor.