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Line-Scanning Brillouin-Raman Microscope for Fast 3D Mechano-Chemical Mapping of Biological Samples

✓ Fully Funded 🎓 Optical Physics 🎓 Physics microscopy biomechanics brillouin spectroscopy raman spectroscopy line-scanning microscopy chemical imaging optical system design biological samples

Design a novel line-scanning Brillouin-Raman microscope to rapidly map mechanical and chemical properties in 3D. Address slow point-by-point imaging limitations and enable live biological sample studies with microscopic resolution.

AI-generated overview

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Why This Research Matters

The research enables high-speed mechano-chemical imaging of live biological samples, crucial for advancements in fundamental biology, tissue engineering, and drug discovery. By resolving the slow acquisition bottleneck, it expands application possibilities and accelerates knowledge in bio-mechanics and chemistry.

microscopy Brillouin light scattering biomechanics advanced materials

Project Description

Project Overview

Brillouin spectroscopy measures visco-elastic properties of biological materials, useful in biology, tissue engineering, and drug discovery. Raman spectroscopy probes chemical composition. Combined in confocal microscopy, these techniques allow 3D mechano-chemical mapping but are slow due to point-by-point scanning. A multiplexed line-scanning approach can speed acquisition by probing many spatial locations simultaneously.

What You Will Do

You will design and develop a line-scanning Brillouin-Raman microscopy system capable of fast mechanical and chemical mapping of biological samples in 3D with microscopic spatial resolution. Work will involve optical system design, microscopy, programming in Matlab/Python, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary research team.

Expected Outcomes

A working prototype of a line-scanning microscope system for live biological samples, enabling high-speed mechano-chemical imaging. Expected faster data acquisition and new insights into biological sample mechanics and chemistry in 3D.

Why This Matters

High-speed combined Brillouin-Raman microscopy will advance fundamental biology, tissue engineering, and drug discovery by enabling live imaging of mechanical and chemical properties of biological materials at microscopic resolution. This will overcome current limitations of slow measurement times and unlock new applications.

Entry Requirements

Completion of a UTS recognised MSc Research or MSc Coursework degree with at least 6 months research thesis, or Bachelor Honours degree with 1st Class or 2nd Class Division 1 honours or equivalent qualification. Must have knowledge in optical physics, especially optical system design and microscopy, and good Matlab/Python programming skills. Domestic students only (Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens).

How to Apply

Applicants should send their CV and list of publications to the contact person's email address by the closing date. The application process is open until positions are filled. Early application is encouraged. For further details, visit UTS Graduate Research applications.

Eligibility

UK/Home
EU
International

Supervisor Profile

AP
Assoc Prof Irina Kabakova
University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Science
2176 Citations
26 h-index
Google Scholar

Assoc Prof Irina Kabakova is an Associate Professor of Physics at University of Technology Sydney specializing in microscopy, Brillouin light scattering, biomechanics, and advanced materials. Her research centers on innovative optical methods to study mechanical properties of materials and biological samples. With a strong publication record and significant citations, she is a leading figure in Brillouin spectroscopy and optical physics.

Key Publications

2018 189 citations
Water content, not stiffness, dominates Brillouin spectroscopy measurements in hydrated materials
This paper demonstrated that water content has a dominant effect on Brillouin spectroscopy measurements in hydrated materials, challenging stiffness-based interpretations.
2014 148 citations
On‐chip stimulated Brillouin scattering for microwave signal processing and generation
This research advanced the use of on-chip stimulated Brillouin scattering for microwave signal processing, enabling compact and integrated photonic devices.
2013 134 citations
Narrow linewidth Brillouin laser based on chalcogenide photonic chip
The study developed a narrow linewidth Brillouin laser using chalcogenide photonic chips, improving laser coherence and integration.
2016 127 citations
Widely tunable, low phase noise microwave source based on a photonic chip
This paper presented a widely tunable microwave source with low phase noise based on photonic chips, enhancing microwave photonics technology.
2015 112 citations
Enhancing and inhibiting stimulated Brillouin scattering in photonic integrated circuits
The work showed methods to control stimulated Brillouin scattering in photonic integrated circuits, enabling new device functionalities.

Research Contributions

Demonstrated that water content, rather than stiffness, dominates Brillouin spectroscopy signals in biological and hydrated materials.
This finding refined the interpretation of Brillouin microscopy data for biomechanical assessments and tissue engineering.
Developed on-chip Brillouin scattering techniques for photonic integrated circuits and microwave signal processing.
Enabled compact, integrated photonic devices for low-noise microwave generation and signal processing applications.
Advanced narrow linewidth Brillouin lasers and tunable microwave sources using chalcogenide photonic chips.
Improved laser coherence and tunability for applications in communications and sensing.
Explored control mechanisms to enhance or inhibit stimulated Brillouin scattering in photonic integrated circuits.
Opened new possibilities for controlling light-matter interactions in integrated optics and photonics.

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