Projects |

Deep photoacoustic imaging

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Photoacoustic imaging converts absorbed pulsed light into ultrasound. Because ultrasound scatters much less than light in soft tissue, it can carry information from depths where conventional optical microscopy loses resolution.

This project develops imaging strategies for deep measurements of neuronal and vascular signals in scattering brain tissue. Current directions include experimental design, signal reconstruction, and validation on biologically relevant samples.

Goals

Measure optical absorption at depths beyond one millimeter.
Improve spatial resolution and sensitivity for neural-scale signals.
Connect photoacoustic contrast to functional markers of activity.

Optical ultrasound detection

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Resolving small structures requires detection of high-frequency ultrasound. Conventional piezoelectric detectors can become limiting in sensitivity, bandwidth, or geometry.

This project explores optical approaches to ultrasound detection, using light as a sensitive probe of pressure waves generated by photoacoustic excitation.

Goals

Increase sensitivity to weak high-frequency acoustic signals.
Develop detector geometries compatible with biological imaging.
Integrate optical detection with photoacoustic reconstruction.

Wavefront shaping

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Scattering scrambles optical wavefronts in biological tissue. Wavefront shaping aims to control this process by tailoring the incident light field.

This project builds on photoacoustic feedback and optical control methods to improve light delivery and imaging in scattering media.

Goals

Use acoustic feedback to guide optical focusing.
Improve light delivery through scattering tissue.
Combine wavefront control with photoacoustic and fluorescence measurements.