We are recruiting for a fully funded PhD Studentships in Optics/Photonics/Physics for a period of 36 months with a start date in December 2022 within the Applied Optics Group, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent. The position is supported by the Global Challenges Doctoral Centre in the University of Kent.
The PhD project will support research and development of a low cost investigational device for noncommunicable diseases leading to blindness if not diagnosed and treated. These are preventable and lack of essential services primarily affect developing countries where clinics cannot afford current OCT instruments, expensive and bulky.
Research will focus on innovative solutions for portable, miniature, low cost imaging systems, that can be used by a non specialist to perform OCT imaging of the eye. The project intends to evaluate several novel avenues opened by recent research in Photonics that will be harnessed to lower significantly the cost of OCT technology. Ideally, the system should be assembled around a low cost camera or a smartphone to enable imaging patients in remote areas of developing countries, or to be used in pop-up eye clinics to screen for retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. Such a device will generate data that will enable health care providers to supply cost-effective, targeted treatment, not currently possible in low resource setting countries and environments.
Scholarship value
The scholarship includes a doctoral stipend equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend, of £17,668, tuition fees at the home rate and access to further research funding.
Criteria
Open to Home students only. To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the RCUK residency criteria.
For more information you may also contact Prof Adrian Podoleanu or Dr. Adrian Bradu, School of Physical Sciences, Ingram, University of Kent, CT2 7NH, UK, till the closing day, 21 October 2022.
For more information on research in the Applied Optics Group, applicants may visit https://netlas.aogkent.uk, https://research.kent.ac.uk/applied-optics/news/
How to apply
To apply, please follow the University of Kent’s online application website, where you need to press,
and select December 2022 as the entry date. Please ensure you include the title “PhD on OCT of the eye in low resource settings” in the section Proposed research topic.
Your application must nominate Prof. Adrian Podoleanu and Dr. Adrian Bradu as supervisors.
Applicants should include the following: A full CV, a one-page summary which should,
- include a description of your skills and experience in Optics, practical Lab projects,
- mention any software expertise and digital signal processing and other information in support of your application with direct reference to the advertisement and further particulars,
- explain reasons for study/outline research proposal,
- provide details/evidence of qualifications,
- provide two academic references,
- provide other personal information and supporting documentation.