Projects
Investigating the best applications for a freestanding film or easily
Contact: Dawid Janas, Cnergytec (& formerly Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy) Mentor: Dr. Julian White Carbon nanomaterials have shown great promise for applications requiring high performance in terms of electrical, thermal, mechanical and optical properties. However, the inability to form macroscopic assemblies with the desired properties has always been a major impediment to achieving their full…
Investigating the market need for the production of hydrogen from
Contact: Dr. Erwin Reisner & David Wakerley, Department of Chemistry Mentor: Dr. Mark Priest, Harrogate Partners The technology is captivatingly simple, allowing the production of pure hydrogen from biomass at room temperature. Using a patented catalyst which is activated by sunlight, lignocellulose and other biomass can be converted directly to high-purity hydrogen gas, with only a…
Early markets for a new family of chemicals – from
Contacts: Professor Oren Scherman, Dr. Silvia Vignolini & Dr. Yang Lan, Department of Chemistry, & Dr. Erika Eiser, Department of Physics Mentor: Adrian Swinburne, Quintaxion A vast array of common products rely on a family of chemical particles known as colloids. From ice cream and mayonnaise, to washing liquid and hair dye, to paints and suncream, the…
Establishing sustainable community cloud infrastructures in the developing world
Researcher : Dr. Arjuna Sathiaseelan, Cambridge Computer Lab Mentor : Dr. Jessica Ocampos, Camnexus There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that access to digital modes of communication strengthens social safety nets, improves social and economic efficiencies and creates new opportunities. Yet three billion people across the world do not have access to…
Global health applications of cell-free extracts for rapid, low-cost, paper-based
Researcher : Dr. Fernan Federici, Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge and Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Mentor : Richard Hammond, Cambridge Consultants In vitro synthetic biology uses cell-free extracts from bacteria or other organisms to which DNA sequences encoding genetic circuits with useful functions are added and expressed. For example, a molecular sensor for Zika…
Farming and processing microalgae to address Vitamin B12 deficiency
Researcher : Professor Alison Smith, Plant Sciences Mentor : Dr. John Mullett In many developing countries ensuring a secure supply of food with appropriate levels of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals is challenging. Deficiency of the essential micronutrient cobalamin (known as vitamin B12), for instance, is estimated to affect over 40% of the global…
Diagnosing anaemia at point-of-care
Contact: Dr. Tanya Hutter, Chemistry Mentor: Dr. Dora Pereira, Pathology Anaemia is a wide-spread condition that results in loss of energy and increased susceptibility to other diseases. It is associated with poor diets, in particular vegetarian diets, and is widespread in many parts of the developing world. Certain populations are also prone to the hereditary…
Investigating the impact of blood transfusion services in the developing
Contact: Dr Krishnaa Mahbubani, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology Mentor: Lara Allen, Centre for Global Equality Dr Mahbubani is working on techniques that enable blood to be dried to a powder and then reconstituted for transfusion. The advantages of this method would be to remove the need for refrigeration and to increase the shelf-live of the…
Improving the storage of biogas
Contact: Andrew Marsden & Dr David Fairen-Jimenez, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Immaterial Labs Mentor: Dr. John Mullett Biogas, which is primarily methane, has been used in various ways in the developing world for some years. Most projects are still small-scale, and look at how to digest waste products to generate fuel (the biogas) and fertiliser…