Fully funded PhD Studentship in Airborne DNA Detection in the Future Biodetection Technologies Hub

Overview:

• Qualification type: PhD
• Subject area: Integrated DNA purifier for airborne environmental DNA collection Location/Campus: College Lane Campus, Hatfield
• Start date: October 2024
• Closing application date: 31st August 2024
• Duration of Contract: 3½  years, full-time

Project outline:

This PhD is an exciting opportunity to participate in the advancement of aerosol biodetection technologies towards providing in-field methods for agnostic detection of environmental airborne DNA by investigating the next technological development in integrated, automated environmental DNA extraction.

The ability to interrogate air DNA offers the promise of understanding the environment’s biological signature and evolution. For smart agriculture, air DNA can provide new understanding and insights into critical areas, including disease spread and transmission models, detecting emerging pathogens, or monitoring new pathogen’s resistances.

The project aims to develop an in-situ method for capturing and purifying air DNA with potential applications in agriculture, health defence and security. Bringing together newly developed advanced aerosol collection principles combined with electrostatic precipitation and digital microfluidics will allow for the collection and concentration of airborne DNA, offering high efficiency, low energy consumption, and versatility with differing airborne particle sizes.

Following a lab-based assessment of the collection performance against target pathogens, the proposed project will aim to investigate novel solutions toward developing an automated digital microfluidics-based air DNA sample purifier and integrating it with the collection system.

The successful project will provide new capabilities for in-field DNA extraction and analysis with a broad impact in multiple sectors beyond agri-tech.

This PhD is being hosted at the University of Hertfordshire within the Centre for Research in Biodetection Technologies and the new Research England-funded Future Biodetection Technology Hub. You will join a vibrant research community, collaborating with some of the leading researchers in aerosol science, and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment within the new SPECTRA building where you will be based. This studentship will be run in partnership with Rothamsted Research, a key player in sustainable and smart agriculture. The project is expected to partly take place at Rothamsted Research, located in Harpenden, providing access to cutting-edge facilities and a depth of expertise in aerobiology characterisation. 

Supervisors:

• Principal Supervisor name & email: Dr Loic Coudron
• Supervisory Team name & email: Dr Nikolay Dimov
• External supervisor Prof Jon West at Rothamsted Research.
• External Industrial support from Rothamsted Research.

Eligibility, entry requirements and how to apply: Applications are welcome from both UK and international applicants with a first or upper-second-class degree in Engineering, Microsystems, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a relevant physical or natural sciences-related subject. 

To apply online for this vacancy and full list of requirements and the details for applying, please click on the 'Apply' button above. Interviews will take place in early September.

For informal enquires please email Dr Loic Coudron

Funding information:

The successful candidate will receive a tax-free annual stipend of £19,237.

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