Rapid Rapid identification of identification of microorganisms microorganisms using optical using optical spectroscopy spectroscopy Spectroscopic characterisation of yeast strains and lactic acid bacteria, distinction from other microorganisms or somatic cells, variations with life cycle. Aim: to build instrumentation for rapid monitoring of industrial processes. Foundation for simple optical essays relevant for industrial applications of yeast and bacterial population in milk and its products. Optical sensing of Optical sensing of trace pathogens trace pathogens using Surface using Surface Plasmon Resonance Plasmon Resonance Sensitivity increase of a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor through surface enhancement of SPR and nanoscale “fractal” surface profiling. Customisation of the sensor surface for the detection of selected biotoxins, using the method of reporter conformational changes and Rare Earth Doped Rare Earth Doped Nanocrystals: Nanocrystals: Novel Fluorescent Tags for Novel Fluorescent Tags for Bioimaging Bioimaging Fluorescence probes that are superior to both dyes and quantum dots •Resilience to photobleaching for improved imaging •Multiple emission lines for multiplexing •Long relaxation time to discriminate against autofluorescence in time- resolved imaging. Synthesis of nanocrystals based on II-VI, III-V and other oxides doped with selected rare earth ions, customized for the use as fluorescent probes Surface modification to ensure water solubility, and derivatised to ensure further connectivity Nanocrystals linked with Ewa M. Goldys Hemant Bhatta, Robert Learmonth, Alex Stanco (Lastek Pty Ltd. Hongfei Dou, Dairy Australia (?), MQ Anne Barnett,Danny Wong, Danny Alam, Nem Jovanovich.MURDG, MQ Krystyna Tomsia, Uwe Happek (UGA) , Yiping Zhao (UGA), Juergen Wiegel (UGA) , Jacek Gaertig (UGA), Peter Bergquist, Andrew Try, (NIH?), US Congress Selected current programs Selected current programs