PhD Studentship Droplet based microfluidics for real time sensing of organ-on-a-chip and patients |2021-2022 Scholarships Grants

Ref: SES-76-183

Research group: Electromechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment

Deadline: Applications will be accepted at any time until the position is filled.

Microdroplets are typically water droplets in oil or oil droplets in water, possessing a size of less than one micrometer (Âµm) to over 500 Âµms in diameter, and can be carried through microchannels in a microfluidic device to perform experimental analyses. Recently, droplet-based microfluidics has emerged as a new and exciting technological tool for applications within the chemical, biological and pharmaceutical sciences.

This exciting research project will study the real-time sampling and monitoring of dynamic immune/metabolic responses of tissue or cells, such as the evolution of cytokines, or other small molecules like cortisol, glucose and lactose, using both organ-on-a-chip devices or dialysate from patients. The main objectives of the project are flexible within the category of microdroplets, with a present interest include (a) designing and fabricating droplet microfluidics and droplet-on-demand devices for real time sampling and analysis, (b) analysing the sample droplets with high throughput and sensitive analytical methods, (c) applying the devices and technologies to study the real time responses of cells or tissues for drug screening and toxicology applications and/or for clinical microdialysis, where endogenous or exogenous molecules from patients are monitored using ultra small sample volumes.Â

The successful candidate will obtain world leading training in a range of disciplines during the PhD including, advanced micro and nano fabrication, microfluidics, microsensor development and high resolution microscopy, and will work with a group of highly motivated, first class researchers and students from University of Southampton and Southampton General Hospital.

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This position is fully funded for 3 years covering EU/UK fees and stipends. Outstanding overseas students are eligible to apply if additional funding/scholarships are obtained by the student to cover the overseas fees difference.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Xize Niu, Email: X.Niu@soton.ac.uk or Prof Hywel Morgan, Electronics and Computer Science, Email: hm@ecs.soton.ac.uk .

To apply, please use the following website: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/postgraduate/research_degrees/apply.page?