We are looking for new graduate students from electrical and computer engineering or mechanical and industrial engineering to join our group in developing new advances in biomedical optical imaging systems. We have particular interest in coherent optical detection, confocal microscopy, and multi-modal imaging where at least one of the modes is optical. We work on these systems within interdisciplinary groups at and beyond Northeastern, from beginning to end, including computational modeling, system design, fabrication, laboratory testing, translation to clinical instrumentation, and signal processing.

Here are some research projects that are of interest to our laboratory. We are always looking for highly motivated students with an interest in biomedical optics. If you are interested in pursuing thesis research in any of these areas, search our publications for further details, and then send email to arrange a meeting for further discussions.

* Three-Dimensional Imaging with Quadrature Microscope: This project will redesign the optical path of the Optical Quadrature Microscope, and develop techniques for tracking particles in three dimensions. Optical Quadrature Microscopy allows "computational focusing" in which a single image is collected, and computational techniques are used to change the focus to different planes. Thus, tracking in three dimensions is possible without the need for multiple images focused at different planes. There is sufficient material here for a proposal for future funding.

* Adaptive Optics in Confocal Microscopy: The depth of penetration of confocal microscopes is limited in part by the optical aberrations and scattering caused by light propagating through a random medium on the way to and from the region being imaged. There is potential for improvement by the use of adaptive optics techniques borrowed from astronomy. One of the challenges in this area is development of techniques to generate the "guidestar." Another is understanding the propagation of light in skin. There is work to be done on computational models to simulate full-aperture confocal microscopes and different levels of detail in the skin. There are also measurements to be made using the Optical Quadrature Microscope, to develop better models of the skin itself. This work builds on research previously published by our laboratory, and could lead to a proposal in Cycle-I of 2009.

* Imaging of Melanin in Skin: We have some preliminary mesurements of infrared fluorescence, visible confocal fluorescence, and multi-photon fluorescence in melanin. The work is very preliminary and has not yet been published. We are interested in finding a graduate student to advance this research.

* Line-scanning Raman Micro-spectroscopy: We are beginning a demonstration project on high-speed Raman micro-spectroscopy, in collaboration with Prof. Diem in Chemistry. The goal here is to enhance the speed of this technique by using a line scanner, similar to our line scanning confocal microscope. Potential projects include optical design, computational modeling, experimentation, and development of applications. There is potential here for a proposal for a funded project.