Soraya Caixeiro

Soraya Caixeiro is a Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Bath, affiliated with the Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, NanoBioPhotonics, and multiple interdisciplinary research centres. Her work focuses on developing micro- and nanolasers for biosensing and biomedical applications, leveraging photonics, nanofabrication, and chemistry. She is actively involved in advancing laser-based technologies for real-time cellular and molecular monitoring, with a particular emphasis on early disease diagnosis and in vivo measurements.

Education: She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from King’s College London (2014–2018), specializing in random lasing action from biocompatible materials. Her research integrates interdisciplinary expertise, including collaborations with institutions in Ireland, Germany, and the University of Bath’s Department of Life Sciences.

Research Interests: Caixeiro’s multidisciplinary research combines photonics with nanofabrication to create compact laser sensors for biological applications. Key areas include enhancing laser specificity, optimizing geometric designs for sensitivity, and developing coatings for targeted biomolecular interactions. Her innovations aim to overcome limitations of traditional biosensing methods, such as low signal intensity and poor tissue penetration.

Publications: Her recent work includes breakthroughs in DNA sensing using whispering gallery mode microlasers, hyperspectral confocal imaging for high-throughput analysis, and optical manipulation techniques for cellular delivery. These contributions highlight advancements in both fundamental photonics and translational biomedical applications.

Outreach & Engagement: She actively participates in public lectures, school outreach programs, and interdisciplinary conferences (e.g., Photon 2024). Her commitment to diversity drives efforts to attract students from varied backgrounds to photonics research.

Labs & Facilities: She utilizes state-of-the-art facilities at Bath, including the Nanofabrication Lab and Photonics and Nanoscience Labs, to pioneer functional biointegrated sensors for tissue and single-cell applications.