4-year PhD in Optical SmartProbe development for Molecular Imaging of the Ex Vivo Perfused Human Lung is available (beginning in September 2015). We have an opportunity for an outstanding synthetic chemistry student to join the Proteus project to develop Optical SmartProbes to ‘light up’ the lung.The Proteus project brings together a set of internationally-recognised researchers to deliver a transformative point-of-care immediate sensing device for intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Led by a multi-disciplinary team of academics with world-class track records in chemistry, fibre optic research through sensing and imaging, signal processing and machine learning to clinical care the team will deliver a Fibre-based Optical Sensing and Imaging Platform with ground-breaking dynamic sensing of key physiological and pathological events in the distal lung of critically-ill ventilated patients.
This, in turn, will lead to significant healthcare improvement through rapid diagnosis, patient stratification and personalised drug therapy. The University of Edinburgh now has available a CASE studentship funded by BBSRC and GlaxoSmithKline for a suitable student to work alongside this prestigious project team. We aim to recruit a high-calibre postgraduate student to join the team and to develop optical SmartProbes to enable the normal function of the lung to be readily assessed.
In particular we are seeking an outstanding chemistry/chemical technology student with an interest in fluorescence and polymer chemistry to develop SmartProbes targeted against the alveolar epithelium and myeloid inflammatory cells (lymphocytes/macrophages). These SmartProbes will be applied to assess the function of ex vivo perfused human lungs. The vision is to develop methodologies that will enable biologists to define the molecular phenotype of a normal ‘rescued and functioning’ lung after ex vivo lung perfusion. Experience in multidisciplinary research would also be beneficial. The student will be based jointly at the University of Edinburgh Queen’s Medical Research Institute and School of Chemistry where they will have access not only to cutting-edge facilities, but also a unique set of experts from both one of the UK’s top Medical Schools as well as one of the top-ranking Chemistry departments in the country.
The student will be jointly supervised by Prof. Mark Bradley (Chemistry), Dr Kev Dhaliwal (Respiratory Medicine) and Professor Moira Whyte (Respiratory Medicine) from the UoE and David Hassall (Inhaled Sciences from GSK). Application Process To apply please submit a cover letter stating clearly why you are interested in applying for the studentships, a full up-to-date C.V. (including vacation address) and names and addresses of two academic referees to the email or postal address given below by 1st June 2015.
Applicants must satisfy RCUK residency rules for the full studentship. For applications and further details please contact: Dr Anne Moore Proteus Project Manager Queen’s Medical Research Institute 47 Little France Crescent Edinburgh EH16 4TJ University of Edinburgh
Email: Anne. Moore@ed.ac.uk