Coded fluorescent micro and nano containers based on a novel photoconversion mechanism

Research Group: Center for Condensed Matter Physics
Number of Students: 1
Length of Study in Years: 3 years
Full-time Project: yes

Funding

Funding is provided via a Queen Mary Studentship.  

• Available to Home applicants.
• Applicant required to start in September 2023.
• The studentship arrangement will cover home tuition fees and provide an annual stipend for up to three years (Currently set for 2022/23 as £19,688).
• International students note that this studentship only covers home tuition fees and students will need to cover the difference in fees between the home and overseas basic rate from external sources. 

Project Description

Nanopore-integrated biosensor technology has attracted considerable attention with its promise of revolutionizing techniques ranging from biological interfaces to rapid pathogen detection to enabling molecular data storage. However, these devices are yet to live up to their full potential due to complex fabrication requirements resulting in low device yields and limited throughput and performance. 

Techniques to fabricate solid-state nanopores have typically been time consuming or lacked the resolution to create pores with diameters down to a few nanometres, as required for the above applications. Controlled breakdown has recently emerged as a highly appealing technique to fabricate solid-state nanopores for a wide range of biosensing applications. We recently developed a new controlled breakdown method that provides a path towards the affordable, rapid, and automatable fabrication of arrays of nanopores self-aligned with complementary on-chip nanostructures.

This project will build on the advancements to develop nanopore-integrate biosensors. We will utilise state-of-the art transmission electron microscopy and thermal scanning probe lithography to characterise and sculpt the graphene-nanopore interface with nanometre precision 

Supervisor Contact Details:

For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Dr Jan Mol

Tel: 020 7882 5582

E-mail: j.mol@qmul.ac.uk

Application Method:

To apply for this studentship and for entry on to the Principal’s Scholarship programme (Full Time) please follow the instructions detailed on the following webpage:

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/physics.html

Deadline for applications - 31st of January 2023

Requirements

• The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
• If English is not your first language you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).

SPCS Academics: Dr Jan Mol