Tuned Coils and Lenz Lenses for NMR/MRI Experiments on Tissues Grown on 3D-Printed Scaffoldings

Supervisor:                Giuseppe Pileio

Co-supervisor :           Yasir Noori

Project description:

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

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

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

In this project we propose to overcome some of these limitations by enhancing signal to noise when detecting endogenous metabolites (and localising exogenous drugs) in tissue grown on 3D-printed scaffoldings. The enhancement is to 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 cell to proliferate inside the NMR/MRI instrument itself. 

The succesful 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, with the student having an active role in designing the coils, optimising them by numerical simulations, microfabricating in our state-of-the-art clean room facility, and in 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 January 2025 but later dates are possible.

Entry Requirements: A good undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering or allied subjects/related disciplines (at least a UK 2:1 honour degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: applications should be received no later than 31st October 2024 for standard admissions, but later applications may be considered.

Funding: full tuition fees for EU/UK Students plus an enhanced stipend of £19,237 per annum for 4 years.

How To Apply: Applications should be made online by clicking the ‘Apply’ button above and selecting “Research” under “Programme Type”, entering “Chemistry” under “Search Text”. 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 to date

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