Optical Biology

The ‘Optical Biology’ PhD programme will train future research leaders to answer fundamental questions in biology by exploiting and developing state-of-the-art optical techniques. The programme brings together life scientists, physicists, chemists and computational scientists at UCL, with world-leading industrial and academic partners, to deliver an integrated training programme in the most advanced optical methods and analysis tools. This would be the first UK PhD programme offering multidisciplinary training in the major advanced light-based methods that are transforming all areas of biomedical research. The programme will be based at UCL, a world-leading environment where many major advances in optical techniques for biology have been developed, including ultra-fast 3D 2-photon microscopy, targeted 2-photon optogenetics, low power super-resolution imaging and whole-brain optical mapping. It will also offer students outstanding opportunities to undertake internships and training with our industrial and academic partners, promoting their career development and providing them with attractive post-PhD prospects. Key programme goals: 1. To train researchers capable of developing and using state-of-the-art optical methods and associated analysis techniques. 2. To train researchers to use these methods to address fundamental biological problems. 3. To create researchers who engage, communicate and collaborate effectively with both industry and academia across disciplinary boundaries.