A PhD opportunity in developing novel, optical fibre-based optical tweezers is available in the groups of Dr L. Paterson and Dr W.N. MacPherson.

Optical manipulation (or optical trapping or tweezing) enables particles from tens of nanometres to tens of microns in diameter to be picked up and moved using only light, but typically relies on focusing the tweezing laser beam through a high numerical aperture microscope objective lens.

The aim of this project is to develop devices on the scale of a microscope slide capable of holding and controllably moving individual microscopic particles in three dimensions without the need for sending the tweezing beam through a high numerical aperture microscope objective. This will allow optical manipulation of particles within our devices under any microscope (not just those with a high numerical aperture lens) and will have wide applicability to many experiments in the life sciences that use specialised microscopes, for example Raman microspectroscopy, confocal or multiphoton microscopy.

Focused ion beam milling and laser machining will be explored as methods to create our own custom-made optics onto the end of optical fibres and custom-made optofluidic devices that will uniquely enable three dimensional optical trapping within a device of similar dimensions to a microscope slide.

This project builds on our existing experience in optical trapping, fibre optics, microfabrication using focussed ion beam milling and laser machining and has a wide range of applications in the life sciences from nanotoxicology to stem cell biology.

Interested candidates should email Dr Bill MacPherson, w.n.macpherson@hw.ac.uk or Dr Lynn Paterson, L.Paterson@hw.ac.uk with a copy their CV.

The project is collaboration between the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3) and the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS), both within the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Heriot Watt University. IB3 is focused on applying advances in the chemical, physical, and engineering sciences to enable and enhance life science research. The interdisciplinary research interests of the members and the state-of-the-art imaging facilities provide a unique environment for integrative research. IPaQS builds on Heriot-Watt’s 40+ years of history in world-leading research in photonics and spans a broad range of research – from lasers and optical sensing approaches to future manufacturing methods to the fundamentals of quantum information.