Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
With the advent of coherent pulsed THz sources and detection technology combining femtosecond lasers and photoconductive antennae and/or non-linear materials, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) has emerged as an attractive technique to study molecular interaction in a wide range of materials. The technology is now becoming more widely used in a number of communities ranging from semiconductor physics, materials science, chemistry to pharmaceuticals. The aim of this PhD project is to assess the applicability of terahertz spectroscopy to the understanding of protein and biological cell interactions and dynamics. The first phase of the project will aim to develop quantitative measurement protocols for this new measurement technique. For application to biological systems, very small signals need to be detected and the errors associated with these measurements must be fully understood. In the second phase of the work, it is hoped that THz TDS will be applied to quantitatively measure protein structures and quantify biological interactions of enzymes and proteins.
Study information
- Start month:
- 1 October 2008
Funding information
- Funder:
- Funded by National Physical Laboratory
- Funding applies to:
- Open to applicants from a range of countries
- Funding notes:
- The studentship is fully-funded (i.e. pays tuition as well as a tax-free maintenance stipend of £12,940 p.a. for 2008/9; £13,240 p.a. for 2009/10; £13,540 for 2010/11).
Contacts and how to apply
- Academic contact:
- Linda Craft
- Administrative contact and how to apply:
- ldc20@cam.ac.uk
- Applications accepted from:
- 9 May 2008
- Application deadline:
- 25 July 2008
