Experience

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  University of california, santa cruz

  Sept 2002 - Jul 2003

  Undergraduate research assistant

  ➤ Worked in the physics Department under advisement of Professor David Belanger➤ Studied phase transitions in dilute anti-ferromagnets under a magnetic field using X-ray scattering at SSRL and Faraday rotation on campus➤ Worked with cryogenics and vacuum systems➤ Developed a passion for scientific discovery

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  University of colorado boulder physics

  May 2003 - May 2005

  ➤ Studied theory of helicase motor proteins unwinding DNA➤ Developed a stochastic simulation method and a matrix calculation method, implemented in MATLAB, to calculate unwinding rates for multiple base-pair steps taken by helicases under active and passive unwinding, informed by experimental data➤ Implemented applying a pulling force on DNA within the model➤ Presented a poster on my results: S. A. Meyer, M. D. Betterton, "Theory of DNA unwinding by helicases which take multiple-base steps," Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, 2006, Salt Lake City, UT (poster) Show less

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2003 - May 2005

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    May 2003 - May 2005
• 

  National institute of standards and technology (nist)

  Jun 2005 - May 2011

  Graduate research assistant, optical frequency metrology group

  ➤ Designed and built a solid-state 200 MHz Yb:KYW femtosecond laser incorporating a semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror to initiate and stabilize mode-locking➤ Measured and developed model based using quasi 3-state laser energy levels to explain complex dispersion behavior of Yb:YYW laser crystal under optical pumping by resonant dispersive effects➤ Amplified laser power and broadened output spectrum using designed fiber amplifier and non-linear fiber➤ Detected f-2f signal by interfering ends of optical spectrum and nonlinear frequency doubling➤ Optimized laser frequency response through innovative phase-lead implementation, reducing the phase noise➤ Fully stabilized Yb:KYW frequency comb spectrum by interference and phase locking to a cavity-stabilized laser➤ Detected the 10 GHz harmonic of the repetition rate signal on a high-speed photodiode and characterized the phase noise by comparison with 10 GHz signals from a Ti:S comb, achieving comparable phase noise to the state of the art microwave frequency references at that time➤ Designed and built a 1 GHz Yb:KYW femtosecond laser using Kerr Lens Mode-locking➤ Injection-locked 1 GHz to 200 MHz femtosecond laser to filter optical modes to study effects of pump power and output coupling on the output power, optical spectrum and microwave spectrum of the slave laser Show less

• 

  Zeiss microscopy

  May 2007 - Aug 2007

  Summer internship

  Designed, built, aligned, wrote control software for, and performed testing of nonlinear structured illumination microscope based on saturation to generate nonlinearity

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  University of colorado anschutz medical campus

  May 2011 - Jan 2024

  ➤ Steered collaborative imaging projects, aiding interdisciplinary scientists in accomplishing their STED imaging objectives.➤ Spearheaded design and development of miniature fiber-coupled STED microscope for awake mouse brain imaging of neural dynamics while interacting with environment.➤ Developed image analysis pipeline to quantify mitochondrial activity in STED images of rat neurons, contributing to epilepsy research.➤ Nurtured academic excellence as primary lecturer for Biostatistics and Optical Microscopy classes, and shared expert insights through annual STED guest lectures and labs.➤ Mentored MS and PhD students to success in building state-of-the-art fiber-coupled STED and portable confocal microscopes.➤ Implemented open-source Dynamic MINimization, (DyMIN) STED add-on, utilizing Field-programmable Gate Array programming, and acousto-optic modulator high-speed control of laser power, based on counts from single photon high performance detectors, at each pixel.➤ Explored applying quantum optics principles to STED microscopy Show less ➤ Built one of the first STimulated Emission Depletion, (STED) microscopes in the USA, a 2-color microscope driving advancements in the imaging of fixed samples labeled with synthetic dyes➤ Conceived, wrote, and tested Labview code, enhancing 3D STED microscopy with a Pi phase mask and aberration correction control➤ Built a beam-scanning STED system for imaging of live cells and tissue with florescent proteins, incorporating a photoactivation system➤ Collaboratively developed image analysis method to characterize dense antibody clusters in STED images, predicting activation of immune system and aiding optical myelitis and MS research➤ Collaboratively performed and analyzed colocalization of proteins in the transduction pathway the the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons using the 2-color STED microscope➤ Mentored research interns from underprivileged backgrounds in super-resolution microscopy Show less

  • Senior Research Associate, Department of Bioengineering

    Aug 2016 - Jan 2024

  • Research Associate, Department of Bioengineering

    May 2011 - Jul 2016
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  Metropolitan state university of denver

  Aug 2011 - Dec 2011

  Lecturer

  ➤ Primary lecturer for General Physics 2, calculus-based physics for engineering and STEM majors➤ Prepared lectures and homework assignments➤ Wrote and graded exams➤ Used concept tests and clickers to engage class and assess and guide student learning➤ Prepared and performed classroom demonstrations

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  Thorlabs

  May 2024 - now

  Senior science writer, npi

  ➤ Write the technical content for the sale of new products on the website.