Single-molecule technologies for biopolymer analysis

Project Summary

Single-molecule approaches have transformed the study of nucleic acids, with nanopore sequencing now delivering real-time analysis of DNA and RNA at scale. The next frontier lies in extending these technologies to other biopolymers, including polypeptides and glycans, whose structural diversity and chemical modifications carry rich biological information. Unlike nucleic acids, these polymers lack uniform backbones and exhibit complex branching or post-translational modifications, making their analysis particularly challenging with conventional methods.

This project will focus on developing and applying nanopore technologies to address the needs of biomedicine. Building on our labs’ expertise in nanopore sensing and chemical biology, we will create systems to obtain previously inaccessible information at the level of individual molecules, enabling breakthroughs in understanding cellular processes and advancing molecular diagnostics.

Advisors

• Professor Yujia Qing (Senior Group Leader, EIT & Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Oxford)
• Professor Hagan Bayley (Principal Scientist, EIT & Professor of Chemical Biology, University of Oxford)

Skills Recommended

• A 4-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science).
• Research experience with skills in laboratory techniques and data analysis, ideally in areas such as biophysics or molecular biology.
• Strong self-motivation and enthusiasm for research in a dynamic and evolving field.
• Clear and effective communication skills, written and verbal, with an interest in working across disciplines.

University DPhil Courses 

• DPhil from the University of Oxford

Relevant Literature

• Martin-Baniandres, P., Lan, W.-H., Board, S., Romero-Ruiz, M., Garcia-Manyes, S., Qing, Y. and Bayley, H. Enzyme-less nanopore detection of post-translational modifications within long polypeptides. Nature Nanotechnology 18, 1335-1340 (2023).
• Lan, W.-H., He, H., Bayley, H. and Qing, Y. Location of phosphorylation sites within long polypeptide chains by binder-assisted nanopore detection. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 24265-24270 (2024).

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