MSc by Research: 1 year full time or 2 years part time.
Microfluidics technologies are opening up new opportunities for rapid analysis and diagnosis in a range of fields, shrinking complex laboratory procedures down onto compact, portable chips . These chips contain tiny channels which allow fluid to be transported, mixed, separated and otherwise manipulated in a controlled way. Optical techniques can be used to read-out information from the chips, for example imaging cells in flow.
In this project, the student will contribute towards a project on developing miniaturised holographic microscopes suitable for analysis and read-out of microfluidic chips. Holographic microscopy allows information from an entire volume to be captured in a single exposure of a camera, making it suitable for imaging cells flowing at high speed. It also allows recovery of phase information, providing contrast and thickness measurements from transluscent objects. We have recently demonstrated a concept for a fibre-based holographic microscope, and shown that we can achieve a resolution of 3 microns and we would now like to develop this further.
Example holographic microscopy image captured through fibre bundle.
The student will take on one aspect of this project, depending on their skills and experience. This may involve work in the optics lab, developing and testing the microscopes, or computational work in Python for high speed image reconstruction and processing (see links to our Python packages below). It will therefore potentially suit applicants from a range of backgrounds in science and engineering.
Further Details
This project is for a 1-year MSc in Physics and is suitable for students with backgrounds in physics, engineering, maths, computing and related disciplines. The project does not currently have funding attached, students must be able to fund the fees and their living costs by applying for a suitable scholarship, see https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate, or through some another source of funds. Current information on fees is available here.
Completion of research will lead to submission of a thesis for examination for award of the MSc degree. There are no written examinations, but AOG members deliver lectures in areas of biomedical optics and medical physics which MSc students may attend, in addition to a programme of seminars by internal and external speakers.
There is no deadline for the project – applicants will be assessed on a rolling basis to start in September or January, although please note any separate deadlines for scholarships or funding. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Michael Hughes (m.r.hughes@kent.ac.uk) for informal discussion before applying.
About the Applied Optics Group
The Applied Optics Group (AOG) is an internationally-recognised research group comprising five academic staff alongside a friendly and vibrant community of postdoctoral and postgraduate students. The group develops innovative optical imaging and sensing technologies with applications across healthcare and industry.
Housed within the Photonics Centre, the AOG benefits from facilities including 10 dedicated optical laboratories, a clean-air room, workshop and extensive resources for the design and prototyping of optical systems and devices. The group works closely with clinical and industrial partners to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications, and has attracted multi-million-pound investment from UK and European funding bodies in recent years.
The AOG is part of the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus. Set within 300 acres of parkland overlooking the historic city of Canterbury, just a short walk or bus ride away, the campus offers an inspiring environment for study and research. Students benefit from excellent social and sporting amenities, and a welcoming international community, all within easy reach of London and the Kent coastline.
More Information
PyHoloscope Python Package for Holography
PyFibreBundle Python Package for Fibre Bundle Imaging
MSc/PhD Study in the Applied Optics Group