PhD Scholarship: Portable Photoacoustic Imaging for Point-of-Care Diagnostics The Dodd-Walls Centre in New Zealand

This fully-funded PhD scholarship at the University of Auckland offers an exciting opportunity to advance portable photoacoustic imaging for point-of-care diagnostics. The project addresses a critical gap in medical imaging by developing a handheld, clinic-ready platform that combines the molecular sensitivity of optics with the penetration depth of ultrasound. This technology enables functional measurements of blood oxygenation and vascular structure, with potential applications in cancer, vascular disorders, and pre-hospital or rural care settings.

The research is multidisciplinary, spanning physics, hardware engineering, and algorithm development. You will systematically develop and validate methods to enhance system performance, including sensitivity, stability, and reconstruction reliability. The project is organized around three main challenges: simulation and design optimization for light delivery and imaging depth; development of compact multi-wavelength illumination hardware suitable for portable use; and advanced reconstruction algorithms for low-signal data to enable quantitative clinical measures.

Applicants should be hands-on researchers with strong coding skills (Python/Matlab) for signal processing or image reconstruction, and experience in electronics design and prototyping, optics, or acoustics. A background in biomedical engineering, computer and electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or a closely related field is preferred. Both domestic and international candidates are welcome to apply.

The scholarship provides a stipend of NZ$34,569 per annum and full coverage of tuition fees for three years. Additional funding is available to support research activities, including travel to conferences and visits to collaborators. The PhD will be supervised by Dr Talia Xu and Dr Jami Shepherd, and the application will be submitted to the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies.

To apply, email a brief statement of interest, CV, and academic transcript(s) with calculated GPE to [email protected] by March 14, 2026. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, and shortlisted candidates will work with the supervisors to develop a research proposal for submission. The anticipated start date is in the second half of 2026, with outcomes expected in mid to late May.

This position is ideal for candidates eager to work at the intersection of hardware, physics, and software, and who are motivated to broaden access to functional imaging in remote and regional areas.