PhD Studentship: Advanced Chemical Sensors for Biodetection (ACSB)

Brief outline:

An aerosol is a suspension of particles or droplets in the air, including dusts, mists, fumes, or smoke. These suspended particles retain their solid or liquid properties but behave like vapours. Bioaerosols are particles of biological origin, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, pollen, and toxins. Depending on their size, shape, and concentration, these particles may cause short or long-term health effects in workers. Technology for real-time bioaerosol detection is underdeveloped, and monitoring systems are not widely used. The E3 - Future Biodetection Technologies Research Hub aims to address gaps in bioaerosol understanding, focusing on their effects on health, climate, and ecosystems. This PhD project will integrate chemistry, engineering, and machine learning to adapt UC's CRIM-TRACK technology, initially developed to detect illicit substances, for aerosol and bioaerosol detection.  

Project Focus/Aim: The aim is to develop the colourimetric technology of the handheld Crim-Track detection device towards the detection of bioaerosols’ relevant chemicals.

Objectives can be seen on the institution link

Cranfield overview and Location:

Based at the UK Defence Academy at Shrivenham in Oxfordshire. Details found on Cranfield website.

Expected impact/results of research project: The findings of the PhD research will allow the integration the Crim-Track technology with other advanced detection tools in a robust, reliable and easy to operate biodetection unit. This PhD research will contribute to unify and scale up highly specific, complementary, and multidisciplinary expertise in bioaerosol detection, collection and analysis, to develop transformative technologies for healthcare, crop protection, defence and security, improving air quality, and atmospheric monitoring for climate models. 

Unique Selling Points of project: The student will be part of the dynamic Aerobiosense Research Group at Cranfield, as well as the broader Future Biodetection Technologies Hub. There will be opportunities for collaboration, training, and placement with research groups at other Hub partner institutions (University of Hertfordshire), or at external partner facilities and end users. Additionally, resources will be available to support researchers' engagement activities at conferences, seminars, and workshops, as well as the production of market analyses for new technology areas.

Supervisors:

• 1st Supervisor - Dr Licia Dossi - e.dossi@cranfield.ac.uk
• 2nd Supervisor - Dr Iva Chialnella - i.chianella.1998@cranfield.ac.uk 

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a first-class UK honours degree in chemistry or equivalent in a related discipline. They must be able to carry out independently organic synthesis and analytical chemistry and have a good understanding of software integration and graphical user interface tools. 

Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python is desirable but not essential.

Funding Notes

Sponsored by UKRI Expanding Excellence in England (E3) fund.

The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) full-time home rate for PhD degrees. The UKRI Indicative Fee Level for 2024/25 is £4,786.

For home students: The doctoral stipend for 2024/25 is £19,237. 

For international students: they must provide the difference between home (£4,786) and overseas (£19,675) fees and visa fees.

Application deadline: 27^th November 2024

Start date: 3rd February 2025

Institution link: Advanced Chemical Sensors for Biodetection (ACSB) (cranfield.ac.uk)

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