Optical Biosensors and Biophotonics

Our research group is made up of research assistants and PhD students with backgrounds spanning the life sciences, engineering sciences and the physical sciences (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry). Although the main focus of our research is to develop new technologies for answering bioscience questions, this is only possible to achieve by a multi-disciplinary approach. Clearly, optical methods offer significant advantages for biomolecular detection, imaging and optical sorting techniques. We are applying and developing technology, often originally developed for optical communications, for new bioscience and medical applications. These technologies are integrated with BioMEMS/microfluidic structures.

Novel micro-devices for genomic and proteomic analysis and cell biology are done in collaboration with research groups in the Schools of Medicine, Biosciences, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy and Mathematics.

We currently offer the following projects:

1. Creation of novel highly sensitive biosensors for detection of low copy numbers of proteins
   This will involve a combination of engineering and biophysics research, there will be some fabrication of, and measurements using, optical micro-devices.
2. Biomolecule manipulation, sorting and analysis of mammalian cells in optical fields using integrated planar waveguide devices (in collaboration with Prof James Wilkinson) and will involve a combination of cell biology and optical technologies
3. Self assembly of nanophotonic structures - of particular value for the detection of cancer using serum. An ideal project for someone with a background in biochemistry or chemistry.

Click here for a full list of PhD projects