Exploring water-light interactions and protein dynamics during simultaneous environmental perturbations using near-infrared spectroscopy and aquaphotomics

This project will explore the interactions between water’s molecular structure and light, and use this knowledge to study the behaviour of proteins within the water sample. The intern will collect data using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can provide insight into what a sample contains based on how different materials absorb light. Samples with a high water content are difficult to study with standard NIRS techniques, so the intern will use aquaphotomics, which connects spectroscopy data with specialized processing and analysis methods to obtain more detailed information.
Using NIRS and aquaphotomics, the intern will study the influence of changing environmental conditions (including dissolving additional substances in water and changing temperature, sound, humidity, and lighting) and the ways these changing conditions interact with each other on the water-light interaction and the information obtained about protein behaviour.
Aquaphotomics is a recent and rapidly growing research field. This project will support an understanding of water’s behaviour that will inform future aquaphotomics research design and practical applications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Luke Harris

Student:

Partner:

Kobe University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Water; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Northern British Columbia

Program: