The scheme is central to the Society’s commitment to fostering excellence in science by supporting early career researchers who are fundamental to the future of global science. It is gratifying to see the URF scheme expand this year to support the biomedical sciences, a discipline that was vital in the response to the pandemic. This will ensure we continue to support a wide breadth of science through the scheme.
Dame Linda Partridge, Biological Secretary and Vice President of the Royal Society
10 February 2022
Royal Society announces University Research Fellowships for 2021
Dr Laura Maria Peralta Pereira has been awarded a Royal Society Fellowship being one of 37 successful newly appointed University Research Fellowship (URF) candidates this year
Dr Laura Maria Peralta Pereira, research fellow in the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences has been awarded a Royal Society Fellowship for her work advancing ultrasound technology. She is one of 37 successful newly appointed University Research Fellowship (URF) candidates this year.
The newly appointed research fellows will be working on research projects spanning the physical, mathematical, chemical and biological sciences.
Dr Peralta said her aim is to create a hyper-aperture ultrasound where multiple, flexibly positioned, small probes are combined to operate as a larger, flexible and multi-view aperture.
“With this project I aim to solve some of the technical and engineering challenges for why this has not been possible before.”
If these technical advances proposed by Dr Peralta are successful, it would expand the use of ultrasound in healthcare, clinicians and patients would also be less exposed to radiation and in the future, it would allow new procedures where ultrasound might not have been possible.
If we improve that then hopefully hyper aperture ultrasound would allow for new procedures for use with this technology. Related to diagnosis for instance, maybe it would allow to accurately measure elasticity which is related to the microstructure of the tissue, so this would probably open new biomarkers.
Dr Laura Maria Peralta Pereira, Research Fellow, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences
Dr Peralta acknowledges Professor Jo Hajnal in her success and has commenced her work at King’s.
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Royal Society University Research Fellow