Jerome C. Mertz, Ph.D.

photo of Dr. Mertz

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Biomicroscopy Lab

Ph.D., Physics, Université Paris VI & UC, Santa Barbara
B.A., Physics, Princeton University

Curriculum Vitae

Phone: (617) 358-0746; Fax: (617) 353-6766
Email: jmertz@bu.edu
Office: LSEB 202

Research Interests

Development and applications of novel optical microscopy techniques for biological imaging.

Current Research

  • Development of nonlinear microscopes based on femtosecond lasers.
  • Application of two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy to deep imaging in brain tissue and visualization of endogenous fluorescence for clinical applications.
  • Applications of second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to cell membrane potential imaging and the photocontrol of chromophore orientation dynamics in membranes.
  • Investigation of interferometric contrast mechanisms based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) or nonlinear detection (Auto-confocal microscopy). Application to thick tissue imaging.

Selected Recent Publications

C. Yang, J. Mertz “Transmission confocal laser scanning microscopy with a virtual pinhole based on nonlinear detection” Opt. Lett. 28: 224-226 (2003)

T. Pons, L. Moreaux, O. Mongin, M. Blanchard-Desce, J. Mertz “Mechanisms of membrane potential sensing with second harmonic generation microscopy” J. Biomed. Opt. 8: 428-431 (2003)

T. Pons, L. Moreaux, J. Mertz “Photo-induced flip-flop of amphiphilic molecules in lipid bilayer membranes” Phys. Rev. Lett 89: 288104 (2002)

L. Moreaux, O. Sandre, S. Charpak, M. Blanchard-Desce, J. Mertz “Coherent Scattering in Multi-harmonic generation microscopy” Biophys. J. 80: 1568-1574 (2001)

L. Moreaux, O. Sandre, J. Mertz “Membrane imaging by second-harmonic generation microscopy” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B. 17: 1685-1694 (2000)