postdoc. opportunity/UCL

stubor

TITLE: POLLEN SENSOR

PDRA position available at the department of Chemistry University College London

Allergic reaction to airborne particles affects about 15% of the population of industrialised countries. Despite this alarming statistic, there is no cheap, automated, and reliable method of detection for these air borne particulates. The objective of this project is to develop a new approach to measuring particles such as pollen and aerosols in the atmosphere, based on gas phase (flame) electrochemical detection. The method relies on the breakdown of the particles in a flame to produce a large number of smaller fragments. The distribution of these fragments in the flame will provide a unique pattern depending on the particle’s material, density and composition and provide a method of particle speciation. (D.J. Caruana and J. Yao, “Gas phase electrochemical detection of single latex particles.” Analyst, (2003) 128, 1286-1290.)

The aim of this project is to develop a new approach for the counting and identification of air borne particulates such as pollen and will be carried out in association with Element Six Ltd. The benefits of such as system will provide an online real-time assay of pollen in the atmosphere; such a system will improve quality of life for allergy sufferers’ world wide.
Candidates should have a strong background in experimental electrochemistry, instrument design or plasma physics/chemistry and should either already have a PhD or expect to submit shortly.

The post is funded for up to 3 years and the successful candidate will be appointed on UCLResearch Associate scale (Grade 7), salary range £26,666 - £32,796 pa plus £2,572 London Allowance. Start date is as soon as possible after 2 January 2008.

The successful applicant for this position will join an active research group in a 5* rated chemistry department (RAE 2001) at UCL. Closing date for applications is 7 December 2007. Please send a CV and names of three referees to Daren Caruana by email d.j.caruana@ucl.ac.uk.

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