Tiny Concepts Big Ideas

Scrutinising biological, industrial, and physical processes at the nanoscale revolutionises scientists’ understanding of the world.

Often referred to as “enabling technology”, nanoscience is likely to impact many aspects of human life - from faster and cheaper electronics, to smarter packaging materials and self-cleaning surfaces, to new approaches to medicines, therapies and diagnoses.

Professor Kenneth Dawson, UCD School of Chemistry & Chemical Biology on the nanoscience revolution.

Professor Dawson on the therapeutic opportunities offered by nanoscience

Nano-optics expert Dr Brian Vohnsen is working with Advanced Optical Imaging techniques. With his team in the UCD School of Physics, Dr Vohnsen is looking at ways to achieve ultra-high resolution retinal imaging. Working with collaborators in the UCD Conway Institute and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, the project, funded by Enterprise Ireland, could lead to better and earlier diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in people over the age of 50 in the developed world.

IN THE NEWS

	Dr Brian Vohnsen talks about the areas covered on the MSc in NanoBio Science
Course Director Dr Brian Vohnsen

On the one-year MSc in NanoBio Science, students from physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics come together to look at topics that span the disciplines. Students take twelve modules, and also complete a major research thesis in areas such as molecular modelling, imaging and analysis, atomic force microscopy, and sub diffraction-limited optical imaging.

	Codrin Andrei is a graduate of the course whose thesis looked at collagen in the eye. For him, studying the living world at the nano scale offers new insights, “I chose to study NanoBio because of the novelty of this master's programme and as nanoscale is the new way of investigating the living world. It is the nanostructure of organisms that gives them their macroscopic properties.”
	Andrzej Pitek is another graduate of the course whose thesis looked at carbon nanotubes. “I chose to study NanoBio because nanotechnology is one of fastest expanding disciplines nowadays and probably will be one of most important disciplines of XXI century, resulting with multiple career opportunities in medical, electronic and many other sectors.”

In one of the course modules, Atomic Force Microscopy, led by Professor Suzanne Jarvis, students look at the basic principles of the area. This covers cantilever design; approach mechanisms; cantilever deflection detection techniques; modes of operation; quantitative measurements; force-distance curves; force-extension curves; and imaging.

The module in Computational Biophysics and Nanoscale Simulations, led by Dr Vio Buchete considers the biophysical and biochemical structural properties of membranes, proteins and nucleic acids. The broad topic areas covered in the module also include an overview of experimental and theoretical (e.g. threading, homology modelling, etc.) methods for structure determination and prediction, and an introduction to molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) methods.

While many graduates of the programme go on to further research, opportunities also exist in biomedical technologies, pharmaceutical industry, drug development and sustainable energy industries.

The potential of Nanotechnology recently surprised the presenter of Channel 4's television programme "Grand Designs"

Indeed, nanoscientific approaches may be key to addressing climate and environmental issues. Nano-scientists work with physicists, biologists, agronomists, economists, geographers and mathematicians in the UCD Earth Institute, whose mission is to find solutions to key challenges in sustainable energy, climate change, natural hazards and nature conservation.

Learn more about graduate opportunities in the UCD School of Physics

Other Courses of Interest

Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering Opportunities
Energy Systems Engineering
Bioengineering
Computer Science
Mathematics
Biomolecular & Biomedical Science Opportunities