Brillouin microscopy of keratin structures

This project focuses on the fibrous protein keratin found in body structures (i.e. hair and skin) to elucidate its stiffness on a microscopic scale and how the local environment affects it. Preliminary work by us has characterised the full elasticity of fibrous proteins collagen and elastin, and obtained mechanical maps of biomaterials and tissues including keratin/human hair using Brillouin microspectroscopy. This project aims to take that work further and implement a multi-modal approach through correlative Brillouin-Raman scattering to understand the effect of chemical and physical insults on keratin/hair strength and structure. Emerging insights in biomaterial stiffness on a micrometre scale might pave the way for the next decade's advances in tissue bioengineering. The PhD project will be based at the University of Exeter, with experimental work being undertaken within Physics on the Streatham Campus, and with placements at Unilever where complementary techniques are applied. Supervision will be provided by Prof. Francesca Palombo, Professor of Biomedical Spectroscopy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter; Prof Nick Stone, Professor of Biomedical Imaging and Biosensing, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter; Dr Paul D A Pudney, Science Leader Vibrational Spectroscopy, Unilever. The PhD student will benefit from working in a multidisciplinary environment within Biomedical Physics at Exeter. This research would suit a candidate with a Physics, Natural Sciences, or Optical Engineering degree, ideally with previous experience developing analytical tools such as microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. This fully funded PhD studentship is available from the 2020/21 academic year for 4 years. For more information about the project and informal enquiries, please contact the primary supervisor, Prof. Francesca Palombo F.Palombo@exeter.ac.uk