Work Experience with The Structural Biophysics Group
6 September 2011
Maeva examining a cornea using light microscopy.
Maeva Vallet came to the Biophysics Group in June 2011 for a 3-month internship from PHELMA (an engineering school in Physics which belongs to the Grenoble Institute of Technology, France). During her stay she worked mainly with Steven Gardner (PhD student), Dr Christina Kamma-Lorger and Nick White, whom she assisted in studies aimed at understanding the structural basis for corneal transparency; this involved use of an organ culture system and confocal microscopy. She also accompanied Sally Hayes on a 3-day trip to Liverpool University, to work under the supervision of Professor Ahmed Elsheikh and study the biomechanical properties of the cornea by means of inflation testing.
Peter Jones, an A-level student from Llanishen High School, Cardiff joined the Biophysics Group in July 2011 for 2 weeks work experience. While he was here he was shown a wide range of techniques used to study the structure of the cornea, these included electron and confocal microscopy, x-ray scattering (using our in-house nanostar x-ray scattering station) and infrared spectroscopy (with our collaborators in the Physics department). He also assisted in studies examining the effect of a new treatment for keratoconus (riboflavin/UVA collagen cross-linking) on corneal structure. He used his computing skills to develop animated Powerpoint slides illustrating the mechanism by which light is transmitted through the cornea onto the retina, which will be used for teaching purposes.
George Nicholls, an A-level student from Howell’s College Cardiff, came to the Biophysics Group for 1 week of work experience. He learnt about the use of microscopical techniques and infra-red spectroscopy (with our collaborator Dr Carole Tucker in the Physics department) to study the structure and behaviour of the cornea, and accompanied researchers on a trip to Diamond Light Source (Didcot, UK) to see how synchrotron x-ray scattering can be used to examine the structure of the lamina cibrosa and study the changes that occur during ageing.
Diamond Light Source (Didcot, UK) in August 2011
Left to right: Hannah Jones, Keith Meek, Craig Boote, George Nicholls, Jen Hiller (manager of Station I22 at Diamond Light Source), Julie Albon.
Anika Rost, an undergraduate Erasmus student from Germany is currently working with the Biophysics Group assisting in studies to determine the effect of a new treatment for keratoconus (ribfolavin/UVA collagen cross-linking) on corneal hydrodynamics. The project forms part of her undergraduate optometry degree.