§ 02 — research

research

i build optical instruments and robotic tools that measure the mechanical state of tissue — at the point of care, in real time, and without cutting.

brillouin spectroscopy · noninvasive sensing · soft robotics and actuators
position phd student, harvard-mit hst
lab bio-optics lab · mgh
fellowship nsf grfp 2025–2030
§ A — current· Bio-Optics Lab (Yun Lab) Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital · Harvard-MIT HST
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Brillouin Capillaroscopy

Mechanical changes in red blood cells are a root cause of microvascular dysfunction in sickle cell disease. This project develops in vivo Brillouin spectroscopy for optical assessment of capillary mechanics at the sublingual vasculature — a window accessible without surgery.

  • active nsf grfp project
brillouinmechanobiologysickle cellin vivo
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Brillouin Needle Steering

Fiber-optic Brillouin spectroscopy embedded in a robotic needle to interrogate tissue mechanics in real time during steering — enabling closed-loop control based on tissue stiffness rather than image guidance alone.

  • 1 award — nsf grfp
brillouinneedle steeringsoft roboticsfiber optics
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supported by
§ B — previous· Barman Lab Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
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Monte Carlo Modeling of Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy

Photon transport simulations characterizing spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) across materials with varying optical properties. Established scaling laws for depth prediction and geometry-based localization modeling — enabling material-agnostic instrument design.

  • 1 paper — analyst, 2024
  • 1 poster — scix 2024
  • 1 award — 1st place facss student poster
SORSraman spectroscopymonte carlophoton transport
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Mechanical Properties Mapping in Cartilage via SORS

First nondestructive, quantitative depth-dependent mapping of Young's and shear moduli in trypsin-treated bovine cartilage using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy. Demonstrates SORS as a tool for osteoarthritis assessment without biopsy.

  • 1 manuscript — under preparation
SORSosteoarthritiscartilagemechanical properties
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Frequency-Resolved SORS for Noninvasive Blood Analysis

Extension of noninvasive Raman spectroscopy to detect malaria-infected flowing blood through skin layers — without invasive procedures. Combines spectral unmixing and frequency-domain modulation to discriminate parasitized cells.

SORSmalarianoninvasiveblood analysis
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Quantitative Phase Imaging of Malaria-Carrying Mosquito Midguts

Label-free visualization of Plasmodium parasites in infected mosquito midguts using quantitative phase imaging — offering an alternative to traditional chemical staining and providing morphometric data on parasite development.

quantitative phase imagingmalariaPlasmodiumlabel-free
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supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
§ C — previous· AIMS Core Lab Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
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NMR & MALDI-MS 2D Correlation Spectroscopy

Statistical correlation analysis of lipid and metabolite interactions in tumor models using combined NMR and MALDI mass spectrometry. Applied to cancer diagnostics to identify co-varying spectral features linked to metabolic phenotype.

  • 4 posters — 2023–2025
  • 1 award — pre-clinical poster award
NMRMALDI-MScancer diagnosticsmetabolomics
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