Photonics among subjects of Heriot-Watt University research projects to obtain funding

Edinburgh, Scotland--Last month, Heriot-Watt University announced the first six collaborative research projects to be funded by the Heriot-Watt Crucible Interdisciplinary Project Fund. The funding aims to encourage researchers who have completed the Heriot-Watt Crucible research program to pilot some of the potential interdisciplinary research collaborations they have explored.

The projects involve 21 early-career researchers from academic disciplines like photonics, nanotechnology, quantum physics, materials science, and marine ecology. While the majority are led by lecturers at the University, two projects also include researchers from the Moredun Research Institute and the University of Edinburgh, institutions with which Heriot-Watt is building on-going research collaborations. Each project combines at least two or three disciplines and is expected to mark the start of promising new research directions for the researchers involved.

The projects selected for funding are:

* Towards mid-IR optical fiber sensors for in situ ocean acidification research
* Games for quantum research
* Probing the optical properties of emulsions with micro-structured fiber probes—a new sensor platform for food science applications
* Using integrated novel 3D techniques for complex flow-field modeling around coralline algae
* Investigating the human health hazards posed by ingested nanomaterials
* Developing color-exploiting femtosecond laser inscription technology to create structural color and pattern

In addition to winning financial support from the fund for their projects, the successful teams have also each been assigned a senior research leader from another academic discipline as a mentor to offer them advice and guidance as their projects progress. Project mentors are Professor Gavin Gibson, School of Mathematical and Computing Sciences; Professor Duncan Hand, Director of Research, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences; Professor Dorrik Stow, Director of Research, Institute of Petroleum Engineering; Professor Peter Woodward, Head of the Institute of Infrastructure and Environment, School of Built Environment; and Professor Murray Roberts, Director of the Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences; and Professor Alan Miller, Deputy Principal, Research and Knowledge Transfer, who also established the funding program.

The fund is sponsored by a grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which promotes bridging between academic disciplines and the development of the next generation of research leaders.

-----

Follow us on Twitter and 'like' us on Facebook

Follow OptoIQ on your iPhone; download the free app here.