58勛圖

PH5016 Biophotonics

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Normally only taken in the final year of an MPhys or MSci programme involving the School, or a postgraduate photonics programme.

Module description

The module will expose students to the exciting opportunities offered by applying photonics methods and technology to biomedical sensing and detection. A rudimentary biological background will be provided where needed. Topics include fluorescence microscopy and assays including time-resolved applications, optical tweezers for cell sorting and DNA manipulation, photodynamic therapy, optogenetics, lab-on-a-chip concepts and bio-MEMS. Two thirds of the module will be taught as lectures, including guest lectures by specialists, with the remaining third consisting of problem-solving exercises, such as writing a specific news piece on a research paper, assessed tutorial sheets and a presentation. A visit to a biomedical research laboratory using various photonics methods will also be arranged.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS 1 MODULE FROM {PH3081, PH3082} OR PASS 2 MODULES FROM {MT2506, MT2507} ) AND PASS 1 MODULE FROM {PH4034, PH4035}

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 80%, Coursework (including presentation)= 20%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures or tutorials

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Methods to investigate biological structures with spatial resolutions from angstroms to millimetres and with temporal resolutions from nanoseconds to seconds and beyond.
  • The nature of the interaction between biological materials (cells, tissue etc.) with light, such as scattering, absorption, fluorescence and Raman.
  • Advanced light- based techniques such as single-molecule fluorescence, super-resolution methods, light-sheet microscopy, OCT and Raman Spectroscopy to provide multi-modal information.
  • Operation of biomedical detection systems such as assays and their detection limits.
  • Advanced optical techniques for mechanical manipulation of proteins and DNA such as optical tweezers and the added functionality and information provided by these methods.
  • Optical methods to measure forces exerted by cell during the cell life cycle.

Additional information from school

Please also read the general information in the School's Honours handbook that is available via /physics-astronomy/students/honours-handbook/