This project offers the very exciting opportunity to work on a revolutionary sample delivery system for serial crystallography that utilises acoustic levitation. The current system utilizes 72 discrete low power 40KHz actuators to generate a series of high and low pressure regions which facilitate the levitation of protein crystal slurries. Data has already been collected from such a system and structures solved (detailed in a Nature Scientific Reports publication). More recently these low pressure regions known as 'traps' that support the slurries can be processed vertically, and the traps filled by a state of the art injector developed by PolyPico capable of delivering quantities as small as 10 picolitres. These two developments could facilitate serial crystallography if the traps can be filled via the Polypico injector and then processed down to the beam for Xray interrogation.
The challenge for the successful candidate would be to familiarise themselves with the control system for the levitator that runs from an Arduino Nano. This is what controls the phases and the signals to the actuators to manipulate the levitating slurries. It has become timely to investigate if the code running the Arduino can be developed further to obtain greater stability and control of motion to further improve system performance. The physical architecture of the levitator can also be investigated to improve trap strength and stability. The project will look to understand the software and physical factors affecting the system, then look to control the complete integrated system. This would involve the Arduino and the Polypico interface talking directly to a Rasberry Pi with a flat touch screen for global control of both the Poly pico injector and the levitator.
Applications are now closed for this project.
Please apply via our online application portal. The vacancy that you are applying for is the "Summer Placements 2023" listing, you will then have the opportunity to select up to three projects to apply for. This project's reference is 23011SP.
Interviews will be scheduled for 6, 7, 8, and 9 February 2023.
If you are disabled and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please let us know via the online application process.
Please note that this role does not meet the required skill level for a Skilled Worker visa and therefore we would be unable to sponsor individuals due to the current UK Home Office immigration rules. To be appointed to the role, candidates will need to have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship from us.
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