BBSRC funded PhD student open position – Royal Holloway University of London and Diamond Light Source
Living Cells Nanocalorimetry and Synchrotron FTIR imaging
Please visit http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=60475
The aim of this research project is to combine thermodynamic analysis of micro- and nano-sized biological objects, e.g. individual cells, cell compartments or individual organelles and, ultimately individual molecules with analytical method such as Synchrotron Radiation InfraRed microprobe.
This project is a collaboration between Royal Holloway University of London (Supervisor Mikhail Soloviev) and the Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus (Co-supervisor Gianfelice Cinque).
Deadline 31st January 2015
All biochemical processes, chemical reactions and physical transitions obey the laws of thermodynamics. Therefore, thermal analysis and calorimetry provide universal means for monitoring the rate of any chemical, physical or biological processes. A range of applications of calorimetry exceeds that for virtually any other modern analytical technique.
We have built a high frequency hybrid AC/DC modulated liquid calorimeter instrument capable of real-time and label-free analysis and suitable for the analysis of nanogram quantities of biological material or the material localised within 10-100 nm of the surface of sensor chip even in bulk samples. Such capability should enable studying cellular metabolic processes and thermodynamics of molecular interactions and biochemical processes at cellular and sub-cellular levels in living cells ex vivo in their natural aqueous environment and without introducing chemical markers or physical sensors.