PhD Studentship: Tuned RF Coils and Lenz Lenses for Magnetic Resonance Experiments on Tissues Grown on 3D-printed Scaffoldings

Supervisory Team: Giuseppe Pileio and Yasir Noori

PhD Supervisor: Giuseppe Pileio

Project description:

Applications are invited for a PhD Studentship in magnetic resonance to work on a project aimed at developing and microfabricate tuned RF coils and Lenz lenses to enhance signal-to-noise in magnetic resonance experiments on tissues grown on 3D-printed scaffoldings. 

3D-printed scaffoldings offer a support where 3D tissue models are grown. These models (cancer models, for example) have properties that better resemble those of real tissues (compared to 2D cultures) and therefore are under scrutiny as they offer a more precise and ethically sustainable platform onto which scientists can test drug delivery, efficacy, cell metabolism, imaging methods, etc.

Magnetic Resonance is a non-destructive harmless technique providing static and dynamical information on all sort of samples and can be used on both in-vivo and ex-vivo tissues. The technique suffers from low sensitivity that makes it not particularly competitive with other imaging techniques for spatial resolution.

In this project we propose to enhance signal-to-noise in detecting endogenous metabolites and localising exogenous drugs in tissue grown on 3D-printed scaffoldings. This enhancement will be achieved through microfabricated tuned coils and Lenz lenses whose geometry and other properties are optimised to match the sample’s characteristics and integrated on portable bioreactors that allow cells to proliferate inside the magnetic resonance instrument. 

The successful candidate will be part of a team that includes Dr. Giuseppe Pileio (School of Chemistry, Director of the Magnetic Resonance Centre) and Dr. Yasir Noori (School of Electronics and Computer Sciences) plus other staff in their research sections.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, and the student will be active in designing and microfabricating these coils using our state-of-the-art cleanroom fabrication facility, optimising them by numerical simulations, and running magnetic resonance experiments.

The University of Southampton ranks in the top 1% of world universities and among the 10 UK’s top research-intensive universities. The Magnetic Resonance Centre offers a huge expertise that spans from spin dynamics theory to NMR methodology in solid and liquid state, microfluidics, protein NMR (in liquid and solid state), NMR at cryogenic temperatures, and micro-imaging. The Zepler Institute nanofabrication facility at Southampton contains one of the largest university cleanrooms in Europe with capabilities to manufacture electronic, photonics and mechanical structures with sub 10 nm resolution. The ideal start date is 30th September 2024 but later starting dates will be considered.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Funding: We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students, including Bursaries and Scholarships.  For more information please visit PhD Scholarships | Doctoral College | University of Southampton  Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How To Apply

Apply online by clicking the 'Apply' button, above.

Select programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Chemistry (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Giuseppe Pileio

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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