Opto-Analytical Spectroscopy, Imaging, and Sensing (OASIS)

Light matter interaction can provide rich compositional information from various types of samples in a non-invasive fashion. Our laboratory has developed a broad range of opto-analytical spectroscopy, imaging, and sensing (OASIS) technologies with core innovations in nanomaterial, device, and instrumentation. In this talk, I will first report our work in spectroscopic sensing and imaging using various light-matter interactions as contrast mechanisms. I will then report a novel class of nanoporous plasmonic materials and their use on Chem/Bio sensing – in some cases at the single molecule level. I will discuss their potential uses in biomedical and environmental applications, in particular, the potential translation into point-of-care, low-cost, distributed, and wearable devices. I will close by sharing our recent exciting journey with DotLens Smartphone Microscopy in terms of the invention and potential impact in formal and informal K-12 STEM education, citizen science, as well as other practical and research applications. We envision a convergence of techniques toward a new class of mobile OASIS platform for Wearable Internet of Things (WIoT).

Bio: Wei-Chuan Shih earned his Ph.D. from MIT Spectroscopy Laboratory/NIH Laser Biomedical Research Center under late laser physicist Michael S. Feld, studying novel optical spectroscopy techniques for non-invasive Chem/Bio sensing and disease diagnosis. He also studied extensively MEMS design and nanofabrication. Prior to joining the University of Houston, he was Schlumberger research fellow, studying optical analysis of hydrocarbon fluids and optical offshore oil spill monitoring. Dr. Shih is Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Chemistry at the University of Houston. He was a MIT Martin Fellow, and received NSF CAREER Award in Biophotonics, inaugural NASA Early CAREER Faculty Award, UH Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, and UH Cullen College of Engineering Faculty Research Excellence Award. His recent PhD graduate was the Best Dissertation Award winner by the Cullen College of Engineering. He has published more than 65 articles in books, journals and conference proceedings, including 40+ peer-reviewed journal papers. He has more than 12 patents, one of which has been licensed. His research has been featured on CNBC, Forbes, OPN, PBS, UH Moment and many other media outlets. Besides NSF and NASA, his research is also supported by NIH, DOI, and GoMRI with a past 5-year total of $3.5M. 

Website: http://nanobiophotonics.ee.uh.edu