Alec is a student at the University of Oxford studying for a PhD in Engineering Science, currently investigating new applications for soft matter photonics within biomedical sciences. Fluorescence Imaging and Optogenetics have revolutionized biomedical imaging, allowing us to physically observe neurons during activation through fluorescence or by activating individual neurons ourselves using light.
In microscopic imaging, however, images of neural tissue are frequently obscured by aberrations introduced into the imaging pathway. These aberrations can be introduced by changes in the refractive index within the tissue, or by flaws within the imaging system itself, reducing the image quality we can obtain. In the field of adaptive optics, these aberrations normally are characterized into a series of mathematical functions called Zernike Polynomials which generally are corrected through spatial light modulators (SLMs) or deformable mirrors. These devices are often overly expensive in terms of bulk, price, and expertise, especially when only a few Zernike modes need to be corrected.
New developments in polymer liquid crystals may allow for an alternative. Liquid crystals are commonly used in research and in consumer technology because of their incredible refractive index tuning capabilities. By combining this technology with laser writing, we can 3D print polymer structures directly into liquid crystal bulks, allowing us to imprint aberration patterns (such as the Zernike Polynomials) directly into the liquid crystal. These devices are significantly easier to both operate and manufacture than SLMs and deformable mirrors, potentially increasing the number of labs and systems that can integrate adaptive optics correction, and allowing us to see more deeply and clearly than ever before. These new photonic polymers are being well explored outside the realm of adaptive optics. Recent advances have begun using these polymers for a class of photonic device called neural probes. These probes can direct light to individual neurons, allowing for single neuron activation from a photonic source.
Alec first became familiar with these technologies during his Professional Experience Year as an undergraduate student in engineering science at the University of Toronto, where he worked as a 16-month intern for the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics. Since then, he has continued to engage with the technology and his investigations as a member of Josselyn Frankland Labs at Sick Kids hospital in Toronto where he engaged with many of the practical struggles of biomedical imaging. He hopes that by focusing on developing these technologies, he can advance the accessibility of advanced medical imaging not just in Canada, but in labs across the world.
Outside the lab, Alec is an avid pianist who especially enjoys playing Chopin and Debussy.
Alec was awarded the Vi Knight Memorial Scholarship 2023-2024.
