Dual comb microscopy for ultrafast biological imaging

About the Project

Project summary

In this fully funded PhD project the selected candidate will work at the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, in collaboration with the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence, to develop novel photonic techniques based on optical frequency comb technology for applications in fast imaging, and monitoring of biological samples and processes.

Project details

In this project the PhD candidate will develop and use state-of-the-art photonic techniques, based on optical frequency comb technology, for applications in imaging and microscopy with the goal of monitoring biological processes. The candidate will be based at the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT), Aston University. With a hundred people workforce AIPT is one of the largest photonics research centres in the UK and in Europe, featuring an intellectually stimulating and vibrant international research environment, together with state-of-the-art labs in a vast range of research areas including optical communications, fibre optics, fibre and semiconductor lasers, sensing, biophotonics, neuromorphic photonics and optical computing.

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr. Auro Perego and his team from AIPT on the development of optical frequency comb sources based on nonlinear photonic platforms, and co-supervised by Prof. Roslyn Bill and her team at the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) receiving relevant training about experimental use of biological samples in the lab too.

Optical frequency combs, a Nobel Prize winning technology, are ultraprecise optical rulers consisting of equally spaced coherent frequency (colours of the electromagnetic spectrum) laser lines and can be generated by several laser-based devices. Nonlinear optics knowledge enables engineering optical frequency comb sources with tailored and controllable spectral properties which can serve a variety of applications including sensing, imaging, ranging and LIDARs, telecom, space exploration and optical clocks.

In this project the candidate will develop electro-optic dual-comb sources leveraging light propagation inside nonlinear waveguides for spectral broadening. The dual comb source will be used in microscopy applications to interrogate target samples detecting their absorption properties, refractive index and response to acoustic vibrations.

The frequency comb based microscopy techniques developed in this project will be employed to perform fast imaging and monitoring several processes that are of interest to the community doing research in biology and membrane science including: brain cells dynamics, infection evolution, and changes in cells mechanical properties.

PhD overview

PhD programmes are for those who are seeking to develop greater in-depth knowledge in a specific area. Completing this level of study is about making an original contribution to knowledge, making new discoveries and developing lifelong skills.

At Aston University, our Engineering and Physical Sciences PhD programmes will provide all the support and facilities you will need to develop into a leading researcher in your chosen field. You will be welcomed into a supportive community with a shared enthusiasm for original research, where diversity and multidisciplinary is championed.

This project is open to Home students ONLY.

Person specification

The successful PhD candidate will have a BSc/MSc degree in Engineering or Physics with substantial knowledge and specialisation in photonics. Previous experimental experience in a photonics lab, and interdisciplinary background in biological sciences are desirable but not essential.