Nanoscale standardisation of DNA damage for Emerging Isotopes in Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

About the Project

The nuclear sector is entering a new era with the rise of targeted radionuclide therapies. Emerging Auger emitters, such as terbium-161 and platinum-195m, offer nanoscale precision in treating disease, but they also present a significant "blind spot" in current radiation protection frameworks. Because these isotopes deposit high-density energy at the nanometer scale—the exact scale of the DNA molecule—their biological impact is far higher than standard safety weighting factors currently suggest.

As part of the RAPTOR DFA network, this PhD project will pioneer the standardisation of DNA damage yields for these next-generation isotopes.

Research Objectives

• Computational Modelling: Use state-of-the-art Monte Carlo codes (e.g., Geant4-DNA, TOPAS) to simulate energy deposition and clustered DNA damage at the molecular level.
• Radiobiological Validation: Conduct in vitro experiments to quantify DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) using DNA nanotechnology.
• Safety Standardisation: Develop a quantitative guideline to help organisations update protocols for handling emerging isotopes in radiopharmacies and nuclear waste streams.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a highly motivated student with a background in Physics, Medical Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or Radiochemistry.

All students funded through the RAPTOR DFA network will be required to undertake 60 credits of training modules as part of the PhD, which will be carried out during the first 3 months of the PhD. Upon completion of the training modules you will receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Nuclear Skills awarded by the University of Liverpool, in addition to your PhD. During the period October – December 2026 you will be required to spend 1 week at each of our partner DFA Universities at Liverpool, Manchester and Suffolk to attend some of these training lectures. All costs for these visits will be covered by the DFA, and more information about this training will be provided when you apply for the PhD.

The applications are open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees.

Supervisors: Dr Wooli Bae and Professor Daniel Doherty

Entry requirements

Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. Starting in October 2026. Later start dates may be possible, please contact Dr Wooli Bae once the deadline passes.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted via the Physics PhD programme page. In place of a research proposal, you should upload a document stating that this application is to the RAPTOR Nuclear Skills DFA, the title of the project that you wish to apply for and the name of the relevant supervisor.