Postdoctoral Research Fellowships - In Vivo Microscopy

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (In-vivo Microscopy)

Employer Description

Guillermo (Gary) J. Tearney, M.D., Ph.D.

Tearney Lab - Wellman Center for Photomedicine

Massachusetts General Hospital

The Tearney Lab is an 80 person multidisciplinary lab led by Guillermo (Gary) Tearney, MD, PhD. The goal of the Tearney Lab is to see every cell in the human body so that disease can be detected at its earliest stages when it can be cured.
To this end, the lab has pioneered multiple optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices that enable 3D imaging at the microscopic scale in living human patients. These technologies include multimodality OCT where OCT is combined with spectroscopy, fluorescence, and other optical techniques, ultrahigh-resolution OCT (OCT) where the resolution is sufficiently detailed to visualize individual cells, and functional OCT that measures the function and metabolism of cells in living systems. These technologies are implemented in a variety of devices (endoscopes, catheters, capsules, implantable) that provide accessible imaging anywhere inside the body. The lab has major programs to overcome clinical diagnostic challenges in celiac disease, food allergy disorders, malnutrition, coronary artery disease, hearing loss, GI cancer, and cystic fibrosis, among others. Novel technologies are created using device development processes and tested and validated in over 15 ongoing single- and multi-center clinical studies.

To enable this broad translational research, the Tearney Lab is outfitted with:
Robust engineering, quality, and clinical regulatory teams
State-of-the-art optical laboratories
Two class 10,000 clean rooms
Multiple rapid prototyping facilities
Nanoscribe optical printing
Machine learning core

Job Description

The role will:

Develop novel fiber optic probes, develop novel illumination and detection systems with suitable sensitivities for biological imaging

Develop novel optical devices based on optical modalities such as spectrally encoded confocal microscopy, multi-photon microscopy, and photoacoustics.

Develop novel OCT based-devices for in-vivo imaging including high-resolution micro-OCT, dynamic OCT, fluorescence OCT, white light OCT, diffuse reflectance OCT, and OCT combined with ultrasound

Implement technologies in one or more of the following organ systems: heart, lungs, brain, ears, and the gastrointestinal tract

Guide research questions, design studies, and monitor the execution of those studies

Guide and oversee engineers and technicians on the research aspects of your projects and ensure they are being done to a scientifically valid and publishable standard

Hold regular technical meetings, set the agenda, and outline a sequence of work for technicians and engineers to follow

Publish in world-leading high impact journals

Deliver milestones on time

This appointment will be made at the rank of postdoctoral fellow or instructor at Harvard Medical School, commensurate with the applicant's experience. MGH's role as a leading teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and close ties to Harvard University and MIT provide an outstanding environment for developing and translating new OCT technologies with applications in basic and clinical research.

Representative recent publications from our group include:

1.            Dong, J., C. Grant, B. Vuong, N. Nishioka, A.H. Gao, M. Beatty, G. Baldwin, A. Baillargeon, A. Bablouzian, P. Grahmann, N. Bhat, E. Ryan, A. Barrios, S. Giddings, T. Ford, E. Beaulieu-Ouellet, S.H. Hosseiny, I. Lerman, W. Trasischker, R. Reddy, K. Singh, M. Gora, D. Hyun, L. Queneherve, M. Wallace, H. Wolfsen, P. Sharma, K.K. Wang, C.L. Leggett, J. Poneros, J.A. Abrams, C. Lightdale, S. Leeds, M. Rosenberg, and G.J. Tearney, Feasibility and Safety of Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus in a Multi-Center Study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2022. 20(4): p. 756-765 e3.
2.            Wartak, A., A.K. Kelada, P.A. Leon Alarcon, A.L. Bablouzian, O.O. Ahsen, A.L. Gregg, Y. Wei, K. Bollavaram, C.J. Sheil, E. Farewell, S. VanTol, R. Smith, P. Grahmann, A.R. Baillargeon, J.A. Gardecki, and G.J. Tearney, Dual-modality optical coherence tomography and fluorescence tethered capsule endomicroscopy. Biomed Opt Express, 2021. 12(7): p. 4308-4323.
3.            Osborn, E.A., G.J. Ughi, J.W. Verjans, Z. Piao, E. Gerbaud, M. Albaghdadi, H. Khraishah, M.B. Kassab, R.A.P. Takx, J. Cui, A. Mauskapf, C. Shen, R.W. Yeh, M.T. Klimas, A. Tawakol, G.J. Tearney*, and F.A. Jaffer*, Intravascular Molecular-Structural Assessment of Arterial Inflammation in Preclinical Atherosclerosis Progression. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging, 2021. 14(11): p. 2265-2267.
4.            Yin, B., Z. Piao, K. Nishimiya, C. Hyun, J.A. Gardecki, A. Mauskapf, F.A. Jaffer, and G.J. Tearney, 3D cellular-resolution imaging in arteries using few-mode interferometry. Light Sci Appl, 2019. 8: p. 104.
5.            Leung, H.M., S.E. Birket, C. Hyun, T.N. Ford, D. Cui, G.M. Solomon, R.J. Shei, A.T. Adewale, A.R. Lenzie, C.M. Fernandez-Petty, H. Zheng, J.H. Palermo, D.Y. Cho, B.A. Woodworth, L.M. Yonker, B.P. Hurley, S.M. Rowe, and G.J. Tearney, Intranasal micro-optical coherence tomography imaging for cystic fibrosis studies. Sci Transl Med, 2019. 11(504).

Job Requirements

A PhD (or equivalent) in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field is required.

Required Skills

Demonstrated excellence in one of the various forms of optical coherence tomography, confocal microscopy, or other In Vivo Microscopy techniques is required

Expertise in one or more of the following areas is desired: optical imaging systems, optical design, circuit design, optical system fabrication, fiber optic systems and components, broadband light source development, spectroscopy, image processing, programming, and clinical studies with novel devices

A strong grounding in fundamental optics theory including fiber optic light guides

A strong understanding of tissue optical properties

Desired Skills

Experience in modeling of light/tissue interactions

A background in fiber probe design (e.g., ball lens, grin lens) including proximal and distal scanning

Strong computational background

A practical understanding of hardware control of optical and related instrumentation to include a working understanding of analog/digital circuits

Experience with real-time processing of optical data

An organized and creative problem-solver

Contact Information

Interested candidates are encouraged to send a CV accompanied by a cover letter describing any previous research training, specific areas of interest, and contact information for three letters of reference. Address correspondence to Dr. Gary Tearney, note the position you are applying for in the subject line, and send by email to tearneylabsearch@partners.org

MGH is an equal opportunity employer.