Applications are invited for a three year Postgraduate studentship, supported by the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and EPSRC DTP, to be undertaken within the Biomedical Engineering Research Group at Aston University.
The position is available to start in October 2021.
Background to the Project
Current clinical imaging/diagnostic modalities are only sensitive to the presence of ocular disease after retinal damage has occurred. Orbital angular momentum (OAM), manifested by a helical wave front of light, has emerged as a new degree of freedom of light, and has a great potential to be used for diagnosis, and in particular for evaluation of macular function, as a new marker of the disease and/or disease progression. Nevertheless, despite multiple recent technological advances in the area, the light with OAM has not been implemented to assess human visual perception. The current project, for the first time to our knowledge, brings the complex light with helical wave front/OAM to visual science. The ultimate aim of the proposal is the exploration of the fundamentals of interaction of OAM with both static and dynamic nano-scaled inclusions in tissue-like scattering medium, and the immediate technology transfer to the current clinical practice of functional characterization of macular structure.
The overall goal of the project is to investigate human visual perception of structured light with helical wave fronts and explore their applicability for detecting central visual field dysfunctions, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, in routine clinical practice.
Biomedical applications of complex structured light with helical wave front/OAM have not been explored in any detail so far. Background theoretical and experimental studies on sensitivity of structured light with OAM to the small alterations in bio-tissues do not exist. Therefore, the project represents a major breakthrough, one that will define new physical phenomena, such as interaction of OAM/helical wave front with biological tissues, to detect small static and dynamic alterations of their optical and structural properties, which serve as the actual markers of certain dysfunctions. The techniques could provide a basis for the rapid, objective and accurate assessment of macular function in health and disease.
The imaging approach developed promises to be highly targeted and may revolutionise clinical diagnosis of visual dysfunction in common and dangerous macular diseases (such as including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy), with sensitivity far beyond the standard limitations and resolution currently achievable in clinical practice.
Person Specification
The successful applicant should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Master’s degree in a relevant subject with a 60% or higher weighted average, and/or a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution) in Physics or Engineering. Preferred skill requirements include knowledge/experience of Ophthalmology/Optometry, laser light, polarization, light-matter interaction, basic experimental skills, basic knowledge of Matlab, and programming skills.
Contact information
For formal enquiries about this project contact Dr JG Swadener by email at [Email Address Removed].
Submitting an application
Details of how to submit your application, and the necessary supporting documents can be found here.
The application must be accompanied by a “research proposal” statement. An original proposal is not required as the initial scope of the project has been defined, candidates should take this opportunity to detail how their knowledge and experience will benefit the project and should also be accompanied by a brief review of relevant research literature.
Please include the supervisor name, project title, and project reference in your application.
If you require further information about the application process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at [Email Address Removed]
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