Postdocs
Dr Andrew Matheson
2018-2021 Dr Andrew Matheson received his MPhys from the University of Edinburgh, and then moved to the University of St Andrews for a PhD performing ultrafast spectroscopy on organic semiconductors. Following this Andrew returned to the University of Edinburgh where he worked on the structure and properties of gels formed by self-assembled small molecule gelators, and did some contract research on the rheology of commercial formulations for industrial clients. Andrew moved to Heriot-Watt University in November 2018 to join nu-Sense as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow where he is working to combine the multiplane imaging with optical trapping to allow 3D tracking of optically trapped beads as part of the nu-sense project.
Dr Ricci Moug
2009 Dr R. T. Moug worked on the creation of a dual fibre optical trap compatible with a Raman spectrometer in order to collect the cells’ Raman spectra and detect cell damage caused by reactive oxygen species. The project was funded by the Heriot Watt-Renishaw alliance.
PhD students
Georgia Anastasiadi
Georgia Anastasiadi worked under the supervision of Dr Bill MacPherson and Dr Lynn Paterson and developed micromanipulation techniques based upon using machined optical fibres. Her work was supported by the Heriot Watt University-Renishaw plc alliance and the Royal Society Paul Instrument Fund.
‘Novel optical fibres for on-chip optical tweezing and bio-applications‘, 2022.
Anusha Keloth
Anusha Keloth worked under the supervision of Prof Ajoy Kar and Dr Lynn Paterson developing microfluidic devices for particle manipulation using the techniques of ultrafast laser inscription and chemical etching.
‘Three dimensional optofluidic devices for manipulation of particles and cells‘, 2017.
Debaditya Choudhury
Debaditya Choudhury worked under the supervision of Prof Ajoy Kar and Dr Lynn Paterson developing the techniques of ultrafast laser inscription and chemical etching to create microdevices for biophotonic applications.
‘Femtosecond laser microfabricated devices for biophotonic applications’, 2013.
William T. Ramsay
William T. Ramsay worked under the supervision of Prof Ajoy Kar and Dr Lynn Paterson to develop methods in biophotonics, in particular a method to perform nanothermometry in microfluidic channels and in optical traps using nanocrystal sensors.
‘Internalisation of biophotonic techniques: Transfection, injection and thermometry‘, 2018.
Summer internships
2022 Grace Swinton, Heriot Watt University, Funded by Rank Prize Fund vacation scholarship.
2022 Euan Millar, Heriot Watt University, Funded by Heriot Watt University.
2021 Carolina Revello, Heriot Watt University, Funded by the EU Gracious project and a SULSA Technology Seed Fund.
2019 Sean Keenan, Heriot Watt University, Funded by Rank Prize Funds vacation scholarship.
2018 Ross McRae, Heriot Watt University, Funded by Edinburgh cellular genomics consortium (Medical Research Council).
2017 Jack Hocking, Heriot Watt University, Funded by SNBTS-IB3.
2017 Katie Murphy, Heriot Watt University, Rank Prize Funds vacation scholarship.
2016 Cedric Pizowicz, École d’ingénieurs de l’université de Nantes, France.
2016 Fiona Neufeldt, Heriot Watt University.
2016 Owen Anderson, Heriot Watt University.
2016 Donald Risbridger, Heriot Watt University, Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship.
2015 Pierre-Henri Thiollier, Universite de Nantes, France.
2015 Ashlesha Bhide, Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Funded by UKIERI.
2014 George Roberts, Heriot Watt University.
2013 Jamie Foubister, Heriot Watt University, British Society of Cell Biology vacation scholarship.
MSc project students
2016 Hoanan (Howard) Chi, 2012 Zahra Ishwein, 2011 Yahya Al Alajlani, 2009 Cong Que Dinh, 2009 William Ramsay, 2008 Shailesh Kumar.
MPhys project students
2020 Fyntan Shaw, 2017 Jack Hocking, 2016 Donald Risbridger, 2016 Fiona Neufeldt, 2015 Isabella McKenna, 2014 Calum Ross, 2012 Ashley Lyons, 2009 Muriel Bechu, 2009 Timo Gunemann, 2008 Christoph Kloeffel, 2008 Gavin MacArthur, 2007 Gary Razinskas.