Optical Biology

The Optical Biology PhD programme will train students to answer fundamental questions in biology by developing state-of-the-art optical techniques. It will bring together life scientists, physicists, chemists and computational scientists with industrial and academic partners.

The programme will be based at University College London (UCL) where many advances in optical techniques for biology have been developed, including ultra-fast 3D two-photon microscopy, targeted two-photon optogenetics, low power super-resolution imaging and whole-brain optical mapping. We will train researchers to use and develop optical methods and associated analysis techniques. We will teach them to use these methods to address fundamental biological problems. Students will be able to undertake internships and training with UCL’s industrial and academic partners to promote their career development. 

The course will create researchers who engage, communicate and collaborate effectively with both industry and academia across disciplinary boundaries.