Super-resolution imaging of cardiac nanostructures in atrial fibrillation

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join an exciting interdisciplinary project investigating the role of subcellular nanostructures in atrial fibrillation (AF). This project focuses on the development and application of cutting-edge, automated, high-throughput super-resolution optical imaging methods—such as DNA-PAINT—to cardiac tissue. The goal is to generate nanometer-scale structural maps across the entire atria (tens of millimetres), and integrate these findings with functional measurements and computational models as part of a larger initiative.

The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience with innovative sample preparation techniques, advanced microscopy hardware, image acquisition pipelines, and data analysis algorithms. The project is inherently cross-disciplinary and will be co-supervised by researchers in Physiology and Bioengineering. It is well-suited for candidates with a background in biology or physiology who are keen to deepen their understanding of imaging technologies, or for those with a background in physics, engineering, or computational science who are open to acquiring experimental skills in a wet lab.

This PhD offers a unique opportunity to build expertise across multiple domains—biological sample preparation, optical imaging system development, and quantitative image analysis—while contributing to a clinically relevant challenge in cardiac research. The project scope can be tailored to align with the applicant’s interests and strengths.

A candidate from a biology / physiology background who wants to gain an in-depth understanding of how imaging systems and image analysis work, or someone from a physics/engineering background who is willing to also try their hand at wet-lab work.

Page expires: 7 November 2025