Project: Development of Portable Optical Sensors for Rapid Tuberculosis (TB) Diagnosis
Location: Soft Materials and Interfaces Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, SBASSE, LUMS, Lahore.
Duration: 3-4 years
Expected starting date: 01 Sep 2025 or earlier
About the Project: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a pressing health challenge in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), where timely and accessible diagnostic tools are often unavailable. This project seeks to bridge that gap by developing indigenously designed, low-cost, and portable optical fibre–based diagnostic platforms for rapid TB detection. With the vision of making TB diagnostics as accessible and user-friendly as glucometers, this interdisciplinary initiative brings together expertise in engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The work is a collaborative effort among a consortium of scientists from Gulab Devi Hospital (Lahore), LUMS, and the University of Bergen, uniting researchers from both Pakistan and Norway.
Position Overview: We seek a postdoctoral scholar to contribute to the design, development, and clinical validation of Raman and OFCRDS-based TB diagnostic platforms. These roles offer the opportunity to be part of a pioneering project with real-world translational impact.
Responsibilities
Design, optimize, and integrate surface chemical functionalization strategies and organic polymer synthesis to develop the targeted TB sensors.
Perform thorough characterization of the products and sensors resulting from the surface functionalization and polymer synthesis activities.
Lead and manage day-to-day project operations and milestones.
Coordinate testing and validation activities with project partners.
Supervise and mentor a team of undergraduate, graduate students and research assistants.
Drive data analysis, interpretation, and visualization.
Take the lead on writing manuscripts, reports, and grant proposals.
Facilitate collaboration among local and international research partners.
Qualifications
PhD in Chemistry or a closely related discipline.
Background in Surface Chemistry, Polymer/Organic Chemistry, and Nanomaterials.
Experience in working with biological materials (e.g., antibodies)
Experience in surface, polymer and organic materials related characterization techniques.
Excellent scientific writing skills (publications in reputable journals expected).
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
To apply, please send your application including a cover letter describing your motivation and research experiences, and a CV including details of your academic record and research experiences as well as contact information of two references to basit.yameen@lums.edu.pk. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.