I am interested in working at the interface of optical engineering and neuroscience, to design, build, and use novel optical tools to study neural circuits in new and impactful ways. While at UCLA, I designed and built an open-source, miniature multiphoton microscope system to resolve neural activity patterns in freely behaving mice. These miniature scopes enable new measurements and are designed to be very high performance, while being low-cost and accessible to users. In the Nedivi lab, I will be working to build a new benchtop two-photon microscope system to resolve fine neuronal structures, such as synaptic markers (both excitatory and inhibitory) across many spectral channels. The goal of the project is to not only resolve synaptic structural dynamics in vivo, but to also resolve calcium dynamics in the same neurons over faster time scales.

While not in the lab, I enjoy working on mechanical and electronics projects (ask about my 1980’s inspired sci-fi robot) as well as cycling, bread baking, food and drink fermentation, coffee roasting, and hiking.