Computational Biomedical Imaging

This project will apply computational imaging and point spread function engineering techniques to improve microscope performance in 3D fluorescence imaging for biomedical applications. Particular current challenges include: maximising light efficiency in order to minimize harm to the specimen and therefore allowing longer timelapse imaging studies; imaging 3D volumes in a snapshot; achieving isotropic 3D resolution.

For example: modern variations on light sheet fluorescence microscopy use complex illumination strategies such as Bessel beam light sheets and "lattice light sheet microscopy". These techniques offer important advantages, but have the drawback that they require the final images to be deconvolved in order to get a clear image - and associated with this are negative implications for the signal-to-noise-ratio of the 3D image. We will acquire images that initially seem to be lower quality, but that have been carefully crafted so that subsequent computational processing will yield a better image than would have been obtained using conventional methods.

Through this project the student will:
- Develop a detailed theoretical and experimental understanding of how the complex imaging and illumination optics of these state of the art microscope systems interact to influence the quality of the imaging.
- Investigate the use of pupil phase masking for snapshot 3D imaging of biological samples, building on our recent research in this area.
- Study the interplay between structured illumination patterns and exotic imaging point spread functions, seeking to optimise photon-efficiency in light sheet microscopy and related imaging techniques.
The overall motivation of this work is to develop novel microscope imaging technologies with the ultimate goal being improved performance for live timelapse imaging of cells, organs and organisms.

This project is aligned with the Technology Touching Life cross-council theme (development of novel techniques and technologies based on new advances in fundamental physical sciences, to address life science research challenges). In particular, our novel optics research will advance the state of the art in imaging for real-time observation and monitoring in vivo.