And early work on the non-invasive blood test technology:...

And early work on the non-invasive blood test technology:

Compact Near-Infrared (NIR) system for blood water content detection

Project summary

Program
PhD
Location
St Lucia
Research area
Engineering

Project description

Are you interested in revolutionizing the medical industry? Then, join our team to develop the next frontier in painless blood testing.

Blood testing is one of the most essential ways for diagnosing various health conditions, such as oxygen levels, anemia, diabetes, and cancer. However, the current methods are invasive, painful, time-consuming, and environmentally unfriendly. Our project aims at taking the first steps towards eliminating these drawbacks by developing a miniature NIR sensor integrated with a smart algorithm to provide accurate readings of blood water content in real time.

For this scholarship, you will perform extensive simulations and conduct multiple measurements in the lab to develop a proof-of-concept that will ultimately pave the way for painless blood testing anytime, anywhere.

We seek a highly motivated PhD student with a proven ability to think outside the box, excellent problem-solving skills, and a proactive attitude to take initiative. Furthermore, you should be comfortable working with fresh blood.

Research environment

The Electromagnetic Innovations and Photonics groups at UQ, are at the forefront of the research and development of cutting-edge biomedical solutions. We are a highly driven, multidisciplinary team passionate about mastering all facets of the interaction between electromagnetic fields and biological media. From dielectric spectroscopy and optical studies to advanced signal processing and data analysis, we aim to create the next generation of innovative and affordable devices for medical diagnostics.

As a member of our team, you'll gain unparalleled access to state-of-the-art resources. UQ's Microwave & Photonics Labs will provide you with a unique platform for innovation, equipped with an NIR spectrometer, optical spectrum analyzers, and a wide range of NIR/Mid-IR/Terahertz lasers. You'll also have access to core hematology facilities at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood for your work on blood and other biological samples. And when computational power is key, UQ's High-Performance Computing clusters, Bunya and Wiener, will offer you cutting-edge processing capabilities, enabling you to run complex simulations with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.
This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisor

Principal supervisor
Professor Amin Abbosh
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
View Professor Amin Abbosh's profileSchool of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Associate supervisor
Dr Wilbert Jesus Villena Gonzales
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
View Dr Wilbert Jesus Villena Gonzales's profile