Quantum Sensing Technologies for Biomedicine (23039)

Quantum Sensing Technologies for Biomedicine (23039)

A range of Four-Year HOME Funded Studentships. Application Deadline: 4th February 2025

Quantum Sensing Technologies for Biomedicine

Primary Supervisor: Various (details below)

Introduction and Project Background

We are delighted to welcome applications for eleven funded UCL PhD studentships affiliated to the Q-BIOMED, The UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub (www.qbiomed.org.uk).

Q-BIOMED is a world-leading research programme and the first UK Quantum Research Hub dedicated to health (www.qbiomed.org.uk). We are one of five quantum research hubs announced as part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. Q-BIOMED aims to develop quantum sensors to deliver a step change in earlier disease diagnosis and treatment for diseases including cancer, infections, neurological and cardiovascular disease. Earlier diagnosis, through ultra-sensitive nanodiamond diagnostics, faster MRI scan times, and improved access through lower costs and portable instruments could offer a paradigm shift in healthcare, potentially saving lives, reducing waiting lists and easing pressures on the NHS. Moreover, quantum sensing technologies capable of analysing single cells and molecules could help researchers identify mechanisms within cells that could be targeted by new treatments.

We will exploit various quantum systems, including solid state defects such as nitrogen-vacancy centres and atomic systems in optically pumped magnetometers; and develop new quantum control methods, quantum-limited amplifiers, squeezed states and enhanced MASERs. We will use these to build sensing and imaging capabilities, in vitro diagnostic tests, and smart interventional tools to support biomedical research.

The Hub brings together researchers in quantum sensing and biomedicine across six UK universities, six NHS trusts, charities, government, and industry partners. These eleven studentships offer the opportunity to be part of this £24m programme, forming a cohort working on a range of projects across the four flagships of the Hub:

Flagship 1 - Biomedical imaging: Quantum magnetic field sensors for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease; MASER enhanced MRI.

Flagship 2 - Quantum-enhanced in-vitro diagnostics: Ultra-sensitive diagnostic tests using nanodiamond sensors in lateral flow and other formats.

Flagship 3 - New surgical and treatment interventions for early-stage and hard-to-treat cancers.

Flagship 4 - New quantum sensing technology to identify cellular mechanisms that could be targeted to prevent disease.

Person Specification and Requirements

We are looking for applicants from diverse backgrounds to address the range of challenges in the hub: physics, engineering, medicine, chemistry, biology, mathematics, or other relevant discipline (project dependent). Applicants should have a 1^st or 2:1 degree or equivalent in a relevant area.

These studentships are only open to Home Fee paying applicants. Overseas fee payers will not be considered. Find out more information about Fee Status criteria

Funding

This is a full studentship available to Home-fee-paying students only. 

The successful student will receive a stipend starting from at least the UCL minimum (£21,237 in 2024/25) as well as the cost of tuition fees for Home fee students (£6,035 in 2024/25). 

The stipends awarded to PhD students at UCL are tax-free and incur no income tax or national insurance contributions. The amount received increases each year throughout the studentship. 

Read more about UCL’s fee eligibility criteria

Departmental and Supervision Breakdown

Studentships are available in the following departments:

• London Centre for Nanotechnology (4x 4-year studentships)
• Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (3x 4-year studentships)
• Department of Physics and Astronomy (1x 4-year studentship)
• Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences (3x 3-year studentships)

Being part of the Q-BIOMED Hub, students will also take part in our Q-BIOMED Future Leaders Programme and other cross-Hub activities. Find out more about our Hub

Project and supervisor list 

Ultra-sensitive blood tests for early disease diagnosis Prof Rachel McKendry (Q-BIOMED Co-Director London Centre for Nanotechnology and Division of Medicine), Professor Neil Sebire (Great Ormond Street Hospital) and Dr Benjamin Miller (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering). The project will focus on engineering spin-modulated nanodiamond sensors for disease diagnostics in point-of-care and a laboratory instrument format and build on our paper in Nature (Miller et al Nature 2020). 

Quantum sensors for early Alzheimer's diagnosis Prof Rachel McKendry (Q-BIOMED Co-Director London Centre for Nanotechnology and Division of Medicine), Professor Gareth Barnes (Imaging Neuroscience) and Professor Dennis Chan (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience). The project aims to harness emerging quantum sensors for early Alzheimer's diagnosis using rapid tests working in partnership with the London Centre for Nanotechnology and the Institute of Neurology Queens Square. 

Magnetic resonance at the single cell level Prof John Morton (London Centre for Nanotechnology & Electrical Engineering). Using superconducting micro-resonators and quantum-limited amplifiers to enhance the sensitivity of electron spin resonance by several orders of magnitude, enabling the study of spin labels for nanometre distance measurements within a single cell. Potential to use quantum squeezed states for greater sensitivity.

Novel maser-based technologies for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Prof Geoff Parker (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering) and Dr Jonathan Breeze (UCL Physics & Astronomy). The project will involve the development of new ways of sensing MRI signals that exploit the use of masers to provide improved signal sensitivity, with future application for diagnosis of a wide range of diseases.

Non-contact thermometers using optically pumped magnetometers Prof Quentin Pankhurst (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering) and Dr Paul Southern (Resonant Circuits Limited). Developing non-contact thermometers for monitoring the remote heating of magnetic nanoparticles for the treatment of pancreatic cancer using optically pumped magnetometers.

Atomic Magnetometers for Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) of the Heart Prof Ferruccio Renzioni (UCL Physics & Astronomy) and Prof Pier Lambiase (UCL Clinical Science). Summary: Developing advanced quantum sensors to image cardiac arrhythmias and improve targeting of therapy using Atomic Magnetometers for MIT.

Quantum sensors for simultaneous heart-brain imaging Prof Pier Lambiase (UCL Clinical Science), Prof Ferruccio Renzioni (UCL Physics & Astronomy) and Prof Gareth Barnes (UCL Imaging Neuroscience). Summary: Developing quantum sensors for simultaneous heart-brain imaging and applications in vagal autonomic nerve activity.

Quantum-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging Dr Jonathan Breeze (UCL Physics & Astronomy). Quantum technologies (e.g. sensors, masers) will be used to investigate and develop new magnetic resonance techniques to enhance sensitivity, increase resolution and improve accessibility. 

Widefield quantum sensing with nanodiamonds Dr Benjamin Miller (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering) and Prof John Morton (London Centre for Nanotechnology & Electrical Engineering). This project aims to develop techniques and protocols for quantum sensing using large ensembles of randomly orientated nanodiamonds in biological samples. Applications include pushing towards the detection single proteins, detection of spin labels, and for nanoscale characterisation of biochemical and biophysical processes. Find out more

Nanoscale quantum sensing at neural interfaces for implantable devices Dr Benjamin Miller (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering) and Dr Henry Lancashire (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering). Active neural interfaces provide dramatic clinical benefits e.g. in drug resistant Parkinson's disease, but can induce electrode and tissue damage. This project will develop nitrogen-vacancy sensors for detecting the rapid, non-uniform, localised electrochemical changes at electrode surfaces, optically addressing nanodiamonds in situ to measure coherence times, charge state, magnetic resonance.

Cleavage methods and chemistries for spin-enhanced lateral flow assays (LFAs) Prof Vijay Chudasama (UCL Mathematical & Physical Sciences). Second Supervisor TBC. We aim to create rapid and low-cost LFAs for disease diagnosis and tracking in decentralised settings by using a strategy that employs cleavable reagents to increase the sensitivity of LFAs dramatically. The focus will be on novel methods and chemistries for cleavage (including photocleavage), as well as automation, to realise simple to use and rapid point of care devices for ultrasensitive detection. 

This is not an exhaustive list, so students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors for more information if desired.

Application Process

How to Apply

Make a formal application via the UCL application portal. Please select the programme code RRDMPHSING01 (Research Degree: Medical Physics) and enter Project Code 23039 under ‘Name of Award 1’.

Please submit:

• A CV 
• A cover letter including your preferred start date
• A 500-word research summary on a relevant topic
• A document containing a ranked list of project titles/supervisors for which you would like to be considered, ordered in line with your preferences from 1 (most preferred) to least preferred

You will be considered for all the projects you list, but not for the projects you don’t list. If you are successful, you may receive an offer for any of the projects you list. We cannot guarantee it will be for your first-choice project. 

Application Deadline and Timeline

The deadline for this application is 4th February 2025.  Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis so please do apply as early as possible.

• After the deadline, all applicants who expressed their interests and specified Project 23039 in their Portico application will be considered for interview.
• If shortlisted, candidates are normally invited for an interview three weeks after the deadline. Unfortunately, if you have not been contacted within this period, you have not successfully been shortlisted.
• The interview panel will normally consist of the supervision team on the project. 
• Note that applications without specifying the project they are applying for and making a formal Portico application will be automatically rejected.
• If you are offered and accept a studentship position, a formal UCL Offer of Admission will be sent to you as well as an offer of studentship funding.

Q&A

For general pre-application enquiries please contact Dr Ben Miller, Q-BIOMED @ UCL Education Lead. 

What is Q-BIOMED?

Q-BIOMED is a £24m National UK Quantum Technologies Research Hub – one of five quantum research hubs, funded UKRI, NIHR and industry partners as part of the UK £2.5Bn National Quantum Technologies Research Programme. The Q-BIOMED hub brings together researchers from UCL and Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick Cardiff, and Heriot Watt universities, as well as NHS trusts, industry partners and charities. Our Hub has already impacted on policy and shaped the new Quantum Mission for Health.

Is this a CDT?

No, this is not a CDT programme. Across all partner universities 19 PhD studentships are associated with the Q-BIOMED Hub and benefit from our stakeholder engagement, Future Leaders training, public engagement and outreach programmes meetings and other programs within the national Hub, as well as the opportunity to be part of a cross-disciplinary, multi-institutional program.

How will students be selected?

Applicants will submit a CV, cover letter, and a short 500-word research summary on a relevant topic. Applicants are also asked to rank their interest in the various supervisors/projects (see How to Apply section).

Following applications, each supervisor will shortlist and interview candidates for their projects. You may be invited to interview for more than one project. Interviews will take place in February.

When do projects start?

Most projects start in September 2025, but some can start in February or May 2025, so please indicate in your cover letter if you would like to be considered for an earlier start date.