Contacts: Dr. Jacqui Cole, Tze-Chia Lin & Andrew Higginbotham, Physics Non-linear optical materials have a wide range of uses, including high-speed optical switching and phase modulation. This makes them important as electro-optic modulators in fibre-optic telecommunications, optical … [Read more...] about Finding real-world uses for efficient non-linear optical materials
Barcode biosensors – developing a new generation of diagnostic devices
Contacts: Dr Al Edwards & Dr Nuno Reis, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Mentor: Marc Bax Immunoassays are the most powerful and widely-used biochemical detection method. They are currently used to measure a vast number of different biomolecules for applications ranging from the … [Read more...] about Barcode biosensors – developing a new generation of diagnostic devices
Using bistable metal sheets as hinges
Contacts: Dr. Keith Seffen, Engineering Mentor: Martin Sabry Dr Seffen and his team have spent many years investigating the manufacture and operation of bistable and multi-stable structures. They are now able to create a novel class of bistable structures which can be used as single-piece hinges … [Read more...] about Using bistable metal sheets as hinges
Manufacturing carbon nanotubes at low cost and at high volume
Contacts: Professor Derek Fray, Department of Materials Science Mentor: Marc Bax Carbon nanotubes have long attracted the attention of the media due to their unique physical and chemical properties. However, they are generally expensive and slow to manufacture, due to the low yield and … [Read more...] about Manufacturing carbon nanotubes at low cost and at high volume
Using fingerprints to detect drugs and other metabolytes
Contacts: Professor David Russell, Department of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, & Jerry Walker, Intelligent Fingerprinting Ltd. Mentor: Dr. Julian White A team of researchers at the University of East Anglia have developed a ground-breaking new technique which can use the sweat in … [Read more...] about Using fingerprints to detect drugs and other metabolytes
Highly-sensitive low-power gas sensors
Contacts: Professor Stephen Elliott, Chemistry, & Professor Bill Milne, CAPE Mentor: Dr. Mark Priest A team of researchers from Chemistry and Engineering have worked together to develop novel gas sensors based on carbon nanotube technology. These sensors have the potential to be low-power, … [Read more...] about Highly-sensitive low-power gas sensors
Developing insect-proof surfaces
Contacts: Jan-Henning Dirks, Dr. Walter Federle & Cristofer Clemente, Department of Zoology Mentor: Dr. Mark Priest he team of researchers in Zoology has used advanced optical techniques to identify the adhesion process by which insects are able to stick to surfaces, a mechanism which uses a … [Read more...] about Developing insect-proof surfaces
Improving athletes’ physical performance
Contact: Dr. Salman Taherian & Dr. Marcelo Pias, Computer Lab Mentor: Dr. John Hunter http://www.sesame.ucl.ac.uk A team of researchers from the Computer Lab and Engineering in Cambridge has worked for the past 2 years on a detailed sensing project for athletes. The SESAME project (SEnsing … [Read more...] about Improving athletes’ physical performance
Commercialising a pain-relieving Peruvian plant extract
Contacts: Dr. Francoise Barbira-Freedman, Department of Social Anthropology Mentor: Dr. Catherine Beech Dr. Barbira-Freedman has spent many years studying the medical traditions of indigenous Peruvian peoples, and compiling a database of over 400 Peruvian plants with medicinal properties. All … [Read more...] about Commercialising a pain-relieving Peruvian plant extract
Carbon Capture via Mineralisation
Contacts: Derek Fray, Materials Science, & Michael Priestnall, Cambridge Carbon Capture Mentor: Dr. Nicky Athanassopoulou Professor Derek Fray and his team in the Department of Materials Science, in partnership with Cambridge Carbon Capture, is investigating novel chemistry and … [Read more...] about Carbon Capture via Mineralisation
A low-cost computer for the developing world
Contact: Jack Lang, Lecturer, Computer Lab Mentor: Amy Weatherup A team from The Computer Lab here at Cambridge is currently developing a low-cost computing box initially designed to allow kids and other enthusiasts to learn how to write programs. Led by Jack Lang, who was one of the creators of … [Read more...] about A low-cost computer for the developing world
Non-labelled and selective detection of bacteria at the point-of-care
Contacts: Sourav Ghosh, Engineering & Dr Viktor Ostanin, Chemistry Mentor: Marc Bax Rapid detection of pathogenic micro-organisms is getting increasingly important in clinical, bio-defence, food processing and environmental applications. However, the conventional biochemical techniques, such … [Read more...] about Non-labelled and selective detection of bacteria at the point-of-care
Investigating the citric acid marketplace
Contacts: Dr David Zou, Materials Science and GreenPB Mentor: Dr. Nicky Athanassopoulou GreenPB (who were originally an i-Team) are in the early stages of commercialising a new environmentally-friendly method of recycling car batteries, invented by Dr. Vasant Kumar of Materials Science. The … [Read more...] about Investigating the citric acid marketplace
Commercialising an automated rowing trainer
Contacts: Simon Fothergill, Computer Lab Mentor: Dr. John Hunter A team of researchers from the Computer Lab and Engineering department in Cambridge have worked for the past 2 years on a detailed sensing project for athletes. The SESAME project (SEnsing in Sport and Managed Exercise) has looked … [Read more...] about Commercialising an automated rowing trainer
A low-cost programmable computer for kids
Contact: Jack Lang, Lecturer, Computer Lab Mentor: Amy Weatherup Applications to study Computer Science at University have dropped sharply over the past 10 years, as computers have become tools to use rather than machines to program. It is very hard for school-age children to find appropriate … [Read more...] about A low-cost programmable computer for kids
