Dr Eric Rees
| Position | Lecturer |
|---|---|
| College | Wolfson |
| Qualifications/honours | PhD, MA |
| Address | Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology University of Cambridge New Museums Site Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK |
| ejr36@cam.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | +44 (0)1223 (3)30133 |
| Research group | Laser Analytics , Structured materials |
| Themes | Measurement, Biotechnology |
Research description
Optical microscopy and image processing are at the centre of my current research. My projects can be categorised into three types: (1) the development of advanced imaging technology and setting up new imaging platforms, (2) the application of these techniques to study particular materials and processes, and (3) theoretical studies related to these topics.
Super-resolution Technology
The Laser Analytics group specialises in the development of advanced fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopic measurement techniques, such as fluorescence lifetime, anisotropy, and spectral imaging as well as particularly the new class of Optical Nanoscopy methods. Optical Nanoscopy (the Nature Method of the Year 2008) is the name given to several new methods for optical imaging at sub-diffraction resolution. The ability to use light to study structures at scales previously accessible only to electron microscopy is a major step forwards for imaging biological and similar materials under physiological (i.e. wet) conditions. We construct these kinds of imaging platforms, to enable several collaborative research projects.
Applications of Quantitative Imaging
Particular subjects for which super-resolution imaging has proven valuable include: the study of amyloid fibril aggregation (a process involved in many neurodegenerative diseases); virus assembly and trafficking; and several other areas of biological and materials science.
Theoretical Work
Many super-resolution imaging techniques are so new that the capability of the technology has advanced ahead of its theoretical or mathematical basis. This leads to some interesting inquiries, for example studying mathematically what the resolution of a super-resolution imaging system actually is (see: http://www.optnano.com/content/1/1/12 for example), and how it might be improved.
Research keywords
Fluorescence Microscopy, Quantitative Imaging, Super-resolutionMain collaborators
Alex Knight (Super-resolution technology, Biophysics Group at NPL)Colin Crump (Virus structure, Department of Virology)
Fabrice Gielen (Microfluidics)
Key publications
Elements of Image Processing in Localisation Microscopy, Journal of Optics (2013)
Blind Assessment of Localisation Microscope Image Resolution, Optical Nanoscopy (2012), http://www.optnano.com/content/1/1/12
In Situ Measurements of the Formation and Morphology of Intracellular ß-Amyloid Fibrils by Super-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging, JACS (2011) http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja201651w
An Adaptive Filter for Studying the Life Cycle of Optical Rogue Waves, Optics Express (2010) DOI: 10.1364/OE.18.026113
Electrocatalysis by Nanocrystalline Tungsten Carbides and the Effects of Codeposited Silver, Journal of Power Sources (2009) DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.01.002