Postdoctoral Research Associate in Photodynamic Therapy – Time-Resolved Spectroscopy

Hold a PhD or equivalent qualification in Physical Chemistry, Physics or Biophysics

• An interdisciplinary background, particularly in Photodynamic Therapy, Photopharmacology, or Microbiology.

• Experience in operating time-resolved spectroscopy systems, particularly laser flash photolysis, time-correlated single photon counting, and bio- or chemiluminescence spectroscopy. Previous experience in time-resolved singlet oxygen phosphorescence detection will be given special consideration.

• The ability to set up spectroscopic experiments, from the design of the optical setup to computer programming of instrument control and data acquisition (LabView or similar).

• Good oral and written communication skills in English.

• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Light4Lungs proposes a novel approach to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance in the treatment of chronic lung infections, which are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diseases such as cystic fibrosis and hospital-acquired lung infections. The goal is to develop a novel therapeutic scheme, replacing antibiotics by inhalable light sources that will excite bacterial endogenous photosensitizers (e.g., iron-free porphyrins), eliminating the pathogenic bacteria by the photodynamic effect (local production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species by the combined action of light, a photosensitiser and oxygen) irrespective of its multidrug resistance profile. The aim is to have a safe treatment for the host tissue thanks to its lack of self-photosensitising ability.

The task assigned to the PDRA is to assess the production of singlet oxygen in bacteria exposed to the light emitted by the persistent luminescence particles. To this end, the successful candidate will have to implement novel spectroscopic techniques to detect singlet oxygen, ranging from near-infrared detection of its phosphorescence to the use of fluorescent probes, as well as transient absorption techniques to detect intermediates formed upon exposure of the bacteria to light.