Thomas Bifano

Adaptive Biological Microscope

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The REU student will develop hardware and software for a biological microscope that uses adaptive optics to overcome aberrations in biological tissue, allowing high resolution images at planes deep beneath the tissue surface. The project will exploit our lab’s world-leading expertise in wavefront control systems and microscopy to increase resolution, field of view, and speed of adaptive optics techniques for bio-microscopes.

LEARNING GOALS
• Understand the basics of photolithographic patterning to produce a 3D phase mask using commercial mask writing tools.
• Understand the key concepts of feedback control and adaptive optics.
• Become familiar with deformable mirror technology.
• Develop an appreciation for the state-of-the-art in biological microscopy for deep-tissue imaging.

Learn more about Professor Bifano’s work at his lab website.