Postdoc in Ultrafast, Lensless Nonlinear Microscopy for Real-Time Mapping of Living Brain Activity at Cellular Level - DTU Health Tech

You will join the Biophotonic Imaging Group (OASIS section, DTU Health Tech) and build advanced optical microscopes in our state-of-the-art optical imaging lab. You will collaborate with national and international researchers and students to develop innovative solutions.
This multidisciplinary research program focuses on developing ultrafast multiphoton lightsheet microscopy for imaging live brain activity in vivo at cellular level overcoming the current speed bottleneck for lightsheet imaging.

Background
Neuroscientists are currently able to simultaneously record up to a few dozens of neuronal activities in a living rodent brain using multiphoton point scanning microscopy (MPM) to study how local neurons and their neighboring cells communicate in health and diseased conditions. However, the limited temporal resolution of MPM imaging impedes our understanding of the fast cellular communication and information transmission in large-scale neuronal and non-neuronal networks. More specifically, the obstacles are on the detections of (1) neuronal project and signal transmission between different brain regions and across different depths; (2) vascular signals that transmit along the vast and complicated 3D vascular network; (3) electrical signals at cellular level, i.e., membrane potential changes of individual neurons, which represent many crucial neurological processes.

Lightsheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has great potential to replace conventional MPM for volumetric image acquisition of fast neuronal signaling with reduced laser irradiation owing to its improved imaging speed. But the state-of-the-art LSFM makes use of dynamic wavefront shaping devices such as spatial light modulator (SLM) and deformable mirror devices (DMD) that suffer from subpar refresh rate of pixels. The imaging speed for LSFM is currently limited by slow pixel refresh rate of wavefront shaping devices and camera-based wavefront sensors.

Optical phased array (OPA), the optical counterpart to phased array radar, can electronically control the phase of light emitters, and allow for very stable, rapid, and precise beam steering and shaping without any mechanical moving parts. Replacing the SLM with an OPA has the potential to improve the imaging speed of LSFM by more than two orders of magnitude. In combination with compressive sensing-based wavefront monitoring, all speed bottlenecks for multiphoton lightsheet microscopy could be removed.

Responsibilities and tasks
The purpose of this project is to develop a scanned 2-photon LSFM through optical fiber where beam-shaping is done using OPA. The image detection will incorporate compressive sensing without using camera-based detection schemes. The improvement in imaging speed will be demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo mouse brain imaging.

You will join the Biophotonic Imaging Group (OASIS section, DTU Health Tech) and build advanced optical microscopes in our state-of-the-art optical imaging lab. You will collaborate with national and international researchers and students to develop innovative solutions. You are expected to do student supervision related to the project and your field of expertise. Part of your task will be overseeing our lab facilities and maintaining the operation of our multiphoton lightsheet microscopes.

Finally, an integral part of your duties will be taking part in acquisition of external funding through grant writing.

Qualifications
You are required to have:

• PhD degree in nonlinear microscopy and system development or relevant area, obtained within the last five years.
• Experimental experience in photonics and instrumentation.
• Relevant experience in biology or life science applications.

In addition, expertise within the areas listed below are preferred:

• Optical fibers and beam propagation modeling.
• Beam shaping with spatial light modulator.
• Teaching and supervision experience.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Dr. Peter E. Andersen, group leader of the Biophotonic Imaging Group.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation, and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The salary allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 1 year. Starting date is 1 October 2024 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
The vision of the Biophotonic Imaging Group is to advance the concept of performing an optical biopsy. Therefore, our research activities in revolve around multimodal imaging enabling detection of relevant biomarkers for disease, by combining optical coherence tomography (OCT), 2-photon and 3-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy (2/3-PEFM), and lightsheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM), and its translation into applications. The group boasts a diverse and inclusive environment hosting researchers, postdocs, PhD, master and bachelor students from four continents and various ethnicities.

Please contact Madhu Veettikazhy ([email protected]) or Peter E. Andersen ([email protected]) for further information.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 18 August 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc and PhD – in English)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. We value an inclusive and diverse environment and believe that a diversity of backgrounds and experiences is essential in fostering a creative and successful academic environment.

DTU Health Tech
With a vision to improve health and quality of life through technology, DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation based on technical and natural science. We educate tomorrow’s health tech engineers and create the foundation for new and innovative services and technologies for the globally expanding healthcare sector with its demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech’s expertise can be described through five overall research areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Health, Personalised Therapy, Precision Diagnostics, and Sensory and Neural Technology. Our technologies and solutions are developed with the aim of benefiting people and creating value for society. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD Students, and a technical/administrative support staff of about 100 persons of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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