Imaging, manipulating and measuring HeLa cells

FUNDING: 6 weeks (£2,800 student stipend, equivalent to Living Wage, £500 consumables, £500 student accommodation bursary)
Featured image for “Imaging, manipulating and measuring HeLa cells”
LOCATION: Cambridge, UK
SUPERVISOR(S):

Dr. Chengxi Zhu, Advanced Imaging Centre, Cambridge


Applications are now closed
Application Form

Biological research has increasingly focused not just on observing bio-specimens such as cells, embryos, or tissues, but also on harnessing the power of light to explore and measure their mechanical properties and control their behaviour. At the Advanced Imaging Centre our new instrumentation integrates a confocal spinning disk microscope, optical tweezers, a patterned illumination system, and a femtosecond laser ablation system enabling sophisticated bio-photo manipulation experiments. In this project, the student will have the opportunity to employ optical tweezers in combination with a high-end confocal microscope to study the mechanical properties of HeLa cells. The project work will include imaging HeLa cells using the confocal microscope, calibrating the optical tweezers, employing the optical tweezers for trapping and manipulation. Students may also delve into more advanced bio-experiments, such as using multiple microspheres to stretch HeLa cells, observing changes in their shape.

By the end of this project, students will have gained experience in an advanced microscopy facility enabling them access to cutting-edge technology and a diverse range of biological problems, spanning both Physics and Biology. Students will need to find their own accommodation and be expected to present their findings orally at a research day in York in September 2025.