Applications of nanodiamond for adaptive-optics corrected super-resolution imaging

Super-resolution imaging techniques allow studying of structures much smaller than the traditional limit of approximately half the wavelength of the light. The 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has emphasised its fundamental importance to the biological sciences. We develop microscopes that can perform super-resolution imaging within biological samples; however there are still numerous challenges to successful imaging such as the effects of optical inhomogeneities on the imaging process, effective labelling of structures of interest with suitable dyes and the desire to further increase speed of acquisition, field of view, resolution and perform multi-colour imaging in 3D.

The successful student will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills that are essential for performing research into next-generation microscopy, e.g. developing nanodiamond as an optical sensor in living tissue and the use of adaptive optics to correct for aberrations in biologically relevant samples. Successful candidates will gain a wide range of experience in skills such as: Optical hardware design and alignment, developing software for hardware control and data processing, labelling samples for imaging and collaboration with colleagues in the biological sciences to ensure our research also enables new biological science. Due to the nature of the project, experience of, or a willingness to learn, the control of hardware with Python is essential.