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Alexander Peterson (Fed)
Research Chemist
Research Interests:
My research interests are to help develop and add measurement confidence to modern microscopy techniques based on physical measurement microscopy, techniques that measure the intrinsic optical properties of cells in a live-cell, label-free, non-destructive format. These intrinsic properties (refractive index, absorbance, scattering) are directly derived into cellular physical properties: mass, volume, density, and growth. These are critical cell-based measurement needs! These properties are traceable, derived from SI units, and amenable to the use of reference materials to aid in measurement reproducibility and comparability.
Most microscopy strategies are observational and current technology relies on fundamentally qualitative techniques. It cannot escape from human subjectivity.
I am most interested in physical microscopy techniques such as surface plasmon resonance imaging, quantitative phase imaging, and enhanced darkfield imaging. Basic research, clinical assays, and biomanufacturing industry need measurement techniques like these that are reproducible, quantitative and non-invasive.
Research Areas:
Research Opportunities
2-year fellowship at NIST on the topic of:
- Novel Light Scattering Imaging to Measure the Mass of Gene Delivery Particles
- Design, development and evaluation of surface plasmon resonance imaging as a quantitative microscopy of live cells and their extracellular environment.
- Advanced Imaging Tools to Measure Dynamics of Pluripotency and Differentiation
Contact alexander.peterson [at] nist.gov (Alexander Peterson) if interested in applying and writing a proposal (3000 words). Application deadlines Feb. 1 and Aug. 1. Open to U.S. citizens, $74,950 stipend plus benefits, relocation expenses included.