About the project
In this project you will be working on the design and fabrication of silicon photonics circuits that operate in the mid-infrared wavelength region where the drugs have distinct absorption fingerprints.
The main aim is to achieve detection of clinically relevant concentrations of drugs using inexpensive silicon chips that can be mass manufactured. You will be working with a large research team based in the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) and University Hospital in Southampton on technologies that will change the way healthcare is managed.
Motivation
Therapeutic drug monitoring can benefit significantly from the availability of point-of-care devices in the clinic to measure the concentration of administered drugs with a narrow effective target concentration range. Out-of-range concentration can lead to ineffective treatment or toxicity. For these drugs, rapid, effective and accurate tests of drug levels can result in patients achieving “therapeutic range” doses faster with less chance of periods of time with subtherapeutic or toxic levels. We have consulted NHS specialist clinicians who have suggested drugs that need to be monitored.
Research environment
You will have access to one of the best academic cleanrooms in Europe and state of the art photonics laboratories in the largest photonics centre in the UK. You will collaborate with experts across various fields and gain experience in the design, fabrication and characterisation of photonic circuits. A comprehensive training will be available for improving your technical and soft skills.
More information about the wider Silicon Photonics group at the University of Southampton.
