Background

BSc (Hons) in Mathematics & Physics (2015-2019), University of Dundee

The thesis, "Developing of a wavelength-tunable CW Yb-doped fibre laser", was written demonstrating the methodology for the development of such a laser and its tunability.

MSc in Particles, Strings and Cosmology (2019-2020), University of Durham

The master's degree consisted of an advanced taught course in a broad range of theoretical physics modules and a thesis, "Sterile Neutrinos as Dark Matter" which focused on the calculation of the evolution of sterile neutrino's momentum distribution relative to a momentum/temperature ratio, in the WMD model, at a small and at a large reheating temperature limit.

PhD Research

Due to an interest in medical physics and in the application of THz in skin cancer imaging and treatment, I am currently a PhD student in experimental physics under the supervision of Prof. Emma MacPherson.
I have set up a non-invasive single-pixel imaging system, using undersampling imaging, originally developed by Dr. Rayko Stantchev with the intent of using it for the acquisition of in-vivo skin images, this will require further modifications to be done to this system.
In collaboration with other members of the group, we have used a reflection THz-TDS set-up in a reflection setup to evaluate the effects of Transdermal Drug Delivery patches on the skin over a set time period, further proving that this technology can be used to quantify changes in the human skin and can aid in the production of more efficient skin patches (and other technologies).

In further research, we aim to emphasize the applicability of THz-TDS for material and skin analysis as well as incorporate the THz imaging system on a robotic arm for skin-cancer detection.

Publications

• X. E. R. Barker et al., "Monitoring the Terahertz Response of Skin Beneath Transdermal Drug Delivery Patches Using Sparse Deconvolution," in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 503-510, Sept. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TTHZ.2023.3292546.
• Ding X, Costa G, Hernandez-Serrano AI, et al. Quantitative evaluation of transdermal drug delivery patches on human skin with in vivo THz-TDS. Biomed Opt Express. 2023 Feb 15;14(3):1146-1158

Conferences and Presentations

• (Oral presentation) G. Costa et al. 2022, "Using THz-TDS for assessing the effects of transdermal drug delivery methods on skin", 47th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Delft
• (Poster presentation) R. Stantchev et al., 2022 "Equipment Optimization For Time-Domain THz Single-Pixel Imaging", 47th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Delft

Position: PhD Student

Start Date: October 2020

Supervisor: Emma MacPherson

Contact Details:

Office: P4.31
Lab: P5.52
E-Mail: Goncalo.Costa@warwick.ac.uk
Address: Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.