PhD Opportunity - UK/EU funded scholarship

EPSRC PhD Studentship starting October 2011:  Developing the microdroplet platform for interdisciplinary science.

Supervisors: Professor Chris Abell (Chemistry), Professor Alison Smith (Plant Sciences)

Project outline:This is a joint project with Professor Chris Abell's group in Chemistry  and Professor Alison Smith's group in Plant Sciences, building on our initial work to apply microdroplet technology to cell biology. Microdroplets are typically 20-100 micron water droplets carried through a microfluidic device in an oil stream [1]. The Microdroplet group have developed devices capable of trapping cells in droplets, where they can be grown, analysed and sorted at rates of up to 10 kHz. Optical detection allows the number of cells to be monitored, whilst fluorescence measurements can be used to quantify chemical composition. The project will develop these specifically formatted experimental platforms to carry out high-throughput screening. Suitable candidates could have background in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry or plant/algal biology, but must be prepared to work at the interface between physical sciences and biology.
References
1.    Theberge et al (2010) Microdroplets in Microfluidics: An Evolving Platform for Discoveries in Chemistry and Biology. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 49: 5846-5868.Applications are welcomed from UK and EU students. Overseas students are not eligible for this Studentship.

The minimum qualification for Ph.D. studies is a Class 2.1 Honours Bachelors Degree.
Please email Professor Chris Abell (ca26@cam.ac.uk) as soon as possible (and no later than 15 June) if you are interested in this project.