LuNASI is looking for a student

LuNASI is looking for a student for the SPA project

Job summary: Luminescent nanoparticle Assisted Sensing and Imaging Group of Optical Spectroscopy Department, Institute of Low Temperature and Structural Research Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław (group leader prof dr hab.Artur Bednarkiewicz) is looking for a student for the work in the grant from National Science Centre OPUS 2 entitled “Sensitized Photon Avalanche Emission in lanthanide doped colloidal core-shell nanoparticles: novel materials for superresolution imaging (SPA) “.

The objective of the project is to study a photon avalanche phenomenon in lanthanide doped luminescent nanoparticles for its potential use is single beam super-resolution imaging and enhanced biosensing. First, a wide range of appropriate luminescent colloidal nano-/micro-materials will be synthesized and characterized in terms of structure, morphology and fundamental spectral properties. Next, these materials will be versatilely characterized, searching for photon avalanche features (e.g. high non-linearity, slow emission build up time etc.). For the latter, a dedicated optical setup for temperature and excitation power dependent spectra and luminescence kinetics studies will be developed using fluorescence microscope, temperature chamber, photon counters etc. to automate some routine measurements. Simultaneously dedicated optical instruments will be developed to study the most promising materials for photon avalanche super-resolution imaging (PASSI).

We are looking for a highly motivated, well organized and diligent student with background in physics, optics, optoelectronics and optical spectroscopy willing to gain knowledge at the edge of fundamental and applied spectroscopy. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team of scientist and will be responsible for spectral characterisation of the obtained nanoparticles as well as designing, constructing and testing optical instruments (PASSI microscope). It is possible to perform M.Sc. Eng work in our group.

Responsibilities:

• Characterisation of temperature and excitation power dependent properties of colloidal nano-/micro-particles
• Design, construction and testing of new optical systems (photon counting with PMT, automation of spectral and kinetic studies of colloidal nanoparticles, development of fluorescence microscope based PASSI microscopes)
• Data analysis, modelling, writing reports and scientific publications

• Cooperation with researchers

Requirements - Some experience with :

• design and optimisation of optical instruments (e.g. fluorescence, confocal, STED microscopes, optical setups)
• optical spectroscopy (fluorescence, biospectroscopy) and knowledge of spectral instrumentation (spectrographs, cameras, microscopes, PMT/APD photodetectors, photodetection techniques)
• lasers and optoelectronics
• software development (C/C++, LabView, Matlab, Office, Origin etc.) and electronic circuits development