SWAG合集

Bioaerosols - airborne particles of a biological origin including bacteria, viruses, fungi, pollen and toxins - are ubiquitous but their nature, magnitude, airborne residence and dispersal have significant implications for public health, biosecurity, agriculture, hydrological cycle, climate change and economy.

The existing state of knowledge on detection of bioaerosols is largely stemmed from off-line methods, suffer from the considerable time delay between sampling and quantification and offer only snapshot data.  Recent advancement in bioaerosols detection and characterisation technologies, for example, fluorescence spectroscopy offer the capability to detect bioaerosols in real-time.  However, the existing instrument instruments based on single particle ultraviolet laser/light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) technique are limited by their broad emission detection bands that significantly hinder to resolve spectrally integrated signals from diverse biological and non-biological interfering compounds in real world leading to poor selectivity of these sensors. 

The single particle dual excitation multiple fluorescence band systems capable of measuring spectrally resolved fluorescence along with size and shape in real-time can offer improved selectivity and discrimination of airborne biological particles. The evolving landscape of  UV-LIF based detection systems has demonstrated that these can provide size-segregated temporal profiles of biological particles in contrasting environments and resolved emission intensity measurements provide additional spectral information in comparison to the exiting LIF-based bioaerosol sensors. However, confidence in our ability to discriminate biological and non-biological particles and meaningfully classify bioaerosols is constrained by the relatively unsophisticated data analytics approaches currently available and the lack of defined, laboratory-generated training data that underpin them. Significant knowledge gaps remains, surrounding: discriminating interferants, elucidating the particle size-resolved molecular origin of fluorescence, assigning spectral responses to bioaerosol classes, and understanding atmospheric transformations and ageing processes.


Aim: The aim is to transform the real-time detection and characterisation of bioaerosols in contrasting environments by significantly advancing scientific knowledge and the evidence base on the fluorescence characteristics of environmentally relevant biological materials and interferants through lab and real-world investigations and the development of new data analytic systems.
Objectives:
1. Develop optical-fluorescence spectral libraries relevant to multichannel UV-LIF measurements  
2. Advance fluorescence threshold strategies to discriminate interferants 
3. Develop big data analysis tools and their use for particle differentiation and identify environment-specific optical-fluorescence signatures. 

Cranfield is known for its world-class expertise and unrivalled large-scale facilities and partnerships with industry, government and business allowing to create, curate and transform knowledge to develop solution for societal challenges.  The project team brings together a diverse specialism and capabilities in development of sensors for the detection, quantification and characterisation of a range of chemical and biological hazards as well as their application in real world at different scales and environments.  This studentship is funded by Research England Expanding Excellence in England (E3) fund as a part of Future Biodetection Technologies Hub.

The knowledge gained from this investigation will inform the design and development of future solid-state compact sensors for bioaerosols detection.
• The findings of this investigation will be a significant contribution to advancing technological capabilities to detect and characterise bioaerosols emission from various indoor-outdoor environments
• This knowledge is critical to developing venue and scenario specific bioaerosols emission control strategies and enhancing environmental health management capabilities.
     
The student will be part of the dynamic Aerobiosense Research Group at Cranfield, as well as the broader Future Biodetection Technologies Hub. There will be opportunities for collaboration, training, and placement with research groups at other Hub partner institutions (University of Hertfordshire), or at external partner facilities and end users. Additionally, resources will be available to support researchers' engagement activities at conferences, seminars, and workshops, as well as the production of market analyses for new technology areas.

What will the student gain from experience (transferable skills, employability): 
This PhD offer a wide array of transferable skills such as project management, data analysis, problem solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. There will also be opportunities for postdoctoral progression within the Hub.