PhD project: Bacteria Motility in Complex Media
Project description
The motility of the prototypical bacterium Escherichia coli in aqueous media is well understood. Bacteria, however, can also live in more complex liquids, such as concentrated polymer solutions (e.g. Salmonella swimming up the mucus in chicken oviduct to infect eggs). Such solutions are ‘viscoelastic’, i.e. they show properties of both viscous liquids and elastic solids. Little is known about how bacteria propel themselves through such media. You will use a range of biophysical techniques, e.g. dynamic light scattering and confocal microscopy, to investigate this problem, while at the same time acquiring a high level of skill in laboratory microbiology. There may be opportunities to work with Dr. Gary Bryant (Melbourne), an expert in using light scattering on optically turbid samples.
Project supervisor
- Professor Wilson Poon (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Physics of Living Matter.
- Find out more about the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.