This PhD project will combine microfluidic and real-time sequencing to demonstrate a portable, rapid, and highly sensitive and specific method for the identification of the circulating pathogens in urgent and resource-limited settings. The candidate will develop a portable microfluidic set-up for the rapid extraction of circulating nucleic acids from blood samples, and combine this with a real-time sequencing workflow to identify pathogens present in the human circulation. The ability to quickly identify pathogens soon after the presentation of patients with symptoms of life-threatening infections, like sepsis, could revolutionise patient treatment pathways, improve outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and improve epidemiological surveillance.
Through the optimisation of the microfluidic set-up and sequencing workflows and clinical trials, the goal of the project will be to reduce the time-to-result, increase the ease of use, and demonstrate the clinical utility of the method.
Supervised by Prof Maïwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoas the project will use state-of-the-art prototyping and fabrication techniques available in the Clinical Microfluidic lab and at the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre at Heriot-Watt University. The integrated set-up will be experimentally characterised and tested in close collaboration with external stakeholders, as part of a collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine/African Research Collaboration on Sepsis (Dr Jamie Rylance and Dr Shevin Jacob), University of Edinburgh Infection Medicine (Dr Thamarai Schneiders), Nagoya University School of Medicine (Dr Yoshinori Ito) and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (Prof Stella Smith).
The ideal candidate would have a background in either Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or a relevant Engineering discipline. Engineering candidates should have experience in the fabrication and use of lab-on-a-chip or point-of-care devices, and be prepared to expand their skills into real-time sequencing technology. Biologists should have prior experience with real-time sequencing technology and be interested in expanding their experimental technique to microfluidic platforms.
How to Apply
1. Important Information before you Apply
When applying through the Heriot-Watt on-line system please ensure you provide the following information:
(a) in ‘Study Option’
You will need to select ‘Edinburgh’ and ‘Postgraduate Research’. ‘Programme’ presents you with a drop-down menu. Choose Chemistry PhD, Physics PhD, Chemical Engineering PhD, Mechanical Engineering PhD, Bio-science & Bio-Engineering PhD or Electrical PhD as appropriate and select September 2022 for study option (this can be updated at a later date if required)
(b) in ‘Research Project Information’
You will be provided with a free text box for details of your research project. Enter Title and Reference number of the project for which you are applying and also enter the potential supervisor’s name.
This information will greatly assist us in tracking your application.