Scientist · Innovator · Builder

Imaging the
invisible.
Building what's
missing.

Advanced microscopy, optics, and scientific instrumentation — across the boundary between what can be seen and what can be built.

Invited Talk 29th PhotoIUPAC Symposium on Photochemistry IUPAC · July 2024
20+ Publications
10+ Talks
1 Open Platform
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"The best scientific instruments are the ones that make previously impossible questions suddenly answerable."

— Research Philosophy

I am a researcher and instrument builder working at the frontier of optical microscopy, nanoscience, and advanced imaging. My work spans fundamental physics and practical engineering — designing new systems that reveal how matter behaves at scales the naked eye cannot reach.

Beyond the lab, I build tools and platforms for the broader scientific community — including MicroscopyIndex.io, an open resource for microscopy researchers worldwide. I am driven by a conviction that science advances fastest when knowledge and tools are shared freely and built well.

Microscopy Optics & Photonics Nanoscience Instrumentation Imaging Scientific Tools
Research Focus

What I work on

My work spans several interconnected domains — united by a shared interest in seeing and measuring matter at its most fundamental scales.

01

Advanced Microscopy

Designing and building next-generation microscopy systems that push the boundaries of resolution, speed, and dimensional range.

02

Multidimensional Imaging

Building imaging pipelines and systems capable of capturing spatial, temporal, and spectral information simultaneously.

03

Optics & Photonics

Exploiting light-matter interactions to probe, manipulate, and characterize materials and structures at the nanoscale.

04

Nanoscience

Investigating the physics and chemistry of matter at the nanoscale — where quantum effects, surface forces, and size-dependent phenomena dominate.

05

Scientific Instrumentation

Engineering precision instruments from concept to working prototype — combining physics, mechanics, electronics, and software.

06

Image Analysis & Computation

Developing computational approaches for processing, reconstructing, and extracting information from complex multidimensional datasets.

Selected Work

Featured projects

01
Instrumentation · Microscopy
Next-Generation Multidimensional Microscopy System
Custom optical design enabling simultaneous acquisition across spatial and spectral dimensions.
02
Nanoscience · Optics
Optical Matter: Light-Driven Assembly at the Nanoscale
Exploring the controlled organization of nanoparticles using structured optical fields.
03
Open Platform · Community
MicroscopyIndex.io
An open, curated repository for the global microscopy research community.
Research Output

Selected publications

Second Important Publication with a Clear Descriptive Title
Your Name, Co-Author C · Physical Review Letters · 2023
Third Key Publication — Instrumentation or Methods Paper
Your Name, Co-Author D, Co-Author E · Optica · 2023
View Full Publication List

Major Initiative

Open tools for the imaging community

microscopyindex.io

MicroscopyIndex.io is an open repository and community resource for microscopy researchers worldwide — a central hub for instruments, protocols, datasets, and knowledge that has long been scattered across the literature.

Learn More

Curated Repository

Structured, searchable access to instruments, protocols, and resources.

Community-Driven

Built with and for the global microscopy research community.

Open Access

Free, open, and designed to lower barriers across the field.

Work Together

How I can help

I am open to a range of collaborations, from scientific partnerships to consulting, speaking, and joint initiatives.

Research Collaboration

Interdisciplinary projects combining optical science, imaging, and materials research.

Industry Consulting

Optics, microscopy systems, imaging pipelines, and scientific instrumentation.

Invited Talks

Conferences, symposia, workshops, and seminars on microscopy, imaging, and open science.

Open Science

Partnerships around open tools, community platforms, and shared scientific infrastructure.

Start a Conversation
Background

I study how light reveals the structure of matter — and build the tools to do it better.

My research sits at the intersection of optical physics, instrument design, and nanoscience. I am interested in questions that require new tools to answer — and in building those tools with the care and rigor that science demands.

I have worked on problems ranging from the design of advanced microscopy platforms to the physics of optically driven nanoparticle assemblies. What connects these threads is a conviction that the quality of scientific instrumentation directly determines the quality of the science it enables.

Beyond the lab, I think seriously about the infrastructure of science itself — how tools, data, and knowledge are shared — and I build accordingly.

Research Interests

My work spans advanced microscopy system design, multidimensional imaging, optical trapping, optical matter, nanophotonics, and precision instrumentation. I am drawn to problems that sit at the edge of what existing tools can measure — and to the engineering challenges of extending those limits.

I approach instrumentation not just as an engineering exercise, but as a form of scientific reasoning: the design of a tool encodes assumptions about what matters and what can be known.

Education & Career
Present

Researcher — [Institution / Lab Name]

Advanced microscopy, optical instrumentation, multidimensional imaging, and the MicroscopyIndex.io platform.

20XX

Ph.D. — [Field], [University]

Thesis: [Brief descriptive title of your dissertation]

20XX

B.Sc. / M.Sc. — [Field], [University]

[One line about focus or achievement]

Beyond the Lab

I am a strong believer in open science, collaborative knowledge-building, and the long-term importance of scientific infrastructure. MicroscopyIndex.io reflects this belief in practice. I am also interested in the relationship between scientific tools and scientific culture — how the instruments a field uses shape the questions it asks.

I am open to conversations about research collaborations, consulting, invited talks, or joint initiatives that advance the quality and accessibility of scientific tools.

Research Themes

Focus areas

01

Advanced Microscopy

I design and build custom microscopy systems that go beyond what commercial instruments allow — combining novel optical configurations, precision opto-mechanics, and integrated software to push resolution, speed, or dimensionality.

02

Multidimensional Imaging

Developing systems and methods for simultaneous acquisition across multiple spatial, temporal, and spectral dimensions — enabling rich datasets that capture the full complexity of dynamic systems.

03

Optics & Photonics

Exploiting structured light, near-field effects, and complex optical interactions to probe and manipulate matter at scales unreachable by conventional means.

04

Optical Matter

Studying the formation and dynamics of light-driven nanoparticle assemblies — structures held together by optical forces that emerge from collective interaction with electromagnetic fields.

05

Instrumentation

End-to-end instrument development — from concept and optical design through mechanics, electronics, control systems, and data acquisition. The full engineering stack for scientific tools.

06

Computational Imaging

Building algorithms and pipelines for image reconstruction, analysis, and information extraction from large multidimensional datasets — where physics-informed computation extends what optics alone can resolve.

Projects

Active & recent work

01
Instrumentation · System Design
Multidimensional Microscopy Platform
Custom optical system enabling high-resolution simultaneous spatial and spectral imaging. Replace with your actual project description.
02
Nanoscience · Optics
Optical Matter Dynamics
Light-driven assembly and dynamics of nanoparticle systems in structured optical fields.
03
Methods · Computation
[Computational / Image Analysis Project]
Add your computational imaging or analysis project here.
04
Open Platform
MicroscopyIndex.io
An open resource and community repository for the microscopy research community worldwide.
Second Publication with Full Title Displayed Here
Your Name, Co-Author · Physical Review Letters, Vol. XX · 2023
Third Publication — Instrumentation or Methods Paper Title
Your Name, Co-Author A, Co-Author B · Optica, Vol. XX · 2023
Fourth Publication Title Here
Your Name et al. · ACS Nano, Vol. XX · 2022
Fifth Publication — Add All Your Papers in This Format
Your Name, Co-Authors · Journal Name · 2022

For a complete and up-to-date list, please visit my Google Scholar profile.

View on Google Scholar
What it is

The index that microscopy has always needed.

Microscopy is a vast and fragmented field. Instruments, protocols, datasets, analysis tools, and hard-won expertise are scattered across thousands of papers, lab wikis, and individual memories. MicroscopyIndex.io exists to bring this knowledge together in one open, structured, and community-maintained resource.

The platform is designed to be genuinely useful — searchable, well-organized, and built with the working scientist in mind. It is free, open-access, and built to last.

Why it matters

Science moves faster when tools are shared.

Every researcher who has spent weeks hunting for an obscure technique or rebuilding something another lab already solved understands the problem. The fragmentation of microscopy knowledge is not just an inconvenience — it is a structural barrier that slows discovery, particularly for labs with fewer resources.

MicroscopyIndex.io is a direct response to this gap — one built by someone who has felt it firsthand.

Platform Pillars

What the platform offers

Instrument Repository

Curated records of microscopy instruments — commercial and custom-built — with structured metadata, specifications, and links to primary literature.

Protocol Library

Step-by-step protocols, sample preparation methods, and best practices contributed and reviewed by the community.

Analysis Tools

An indexed collection of open-source analysis tools, plugins, and software pipelines relevant to microscopy researchers.

Community-Maintained

Built with contributions from researchers worldwide — designed to grow, improve, and remain accurate over time.

An open resource for anyone who works with light and lenses.

Visit MicroscopyIndex.io Partner With Us
Philosophy

I believe the most interesting science happens at boundaries — between disciplines, between academia and industry, between the lab and the world outside it. I am always interested in conversations that cross those boundaries.

Whether you are looking for a research collaborator, a speaker who can make imaging science accessible and compelling, or a technical advisor for an instrument or imaging challenge — I am open to hearing from you.

"The best collaborations are the ones where neither party could have arrived at the same place alone."
Opportunities

How we might work together

Speaking

Invited Talks & Lectures

I speak on microscopy, optical instrumentation, multidimensional imaging, and the future of open scientific tools. I am available for conferences, symposia, departmental seminars, and workshops.

Research

Scientific Collaboration

I welcome collaborations with researchers in adjacent fields who need advanced imaging or instrumentation expertise — or who work on problems that intersect with optics, photonics, or nanoscience.

Industry

Technical Consulting

I consult for companies developing optical instruments, imaging systems, or scientific hardware — from early-stage startups to established instrument manufacturers.

Partnerships

Open Science & Platform

I am interested in partnerships that support the development of MicroscopyIndex.io and broader efforts to build open infrastructure for the scientific community.

Teaching

Workshops & Training

Hands-on workshops on microscopy techniques, optical design, instrumentation, and image analysis for researchers at all career stages.

Interdisciplinary

Cross-Sector Projects

Exploratory conversations welcome. If you are working on a problem where advanced imaging or instrumentation might make a difference, let's talk.

I'm always open to interesting conversations.

Whether you want to discuss a collaboration, explore consulting, invite me to speak, or simply connect — I'd be glad to hear from you. I try to respond to all thoughtful enquiries.

Send a message
Contents
  • 1. Positioning
  • 2. Sitemap
  • 3. Homepage Structure
  • 4. Core Copy
  • 5. Visual System
  • 6. Navigation & Footer
  • 7. CTAs
  • 8. Dynamic Content
  • 9. Technical Stack
  • 10. Tone & Character

1. Positioning

Recommended Positioning Statement

Core Positioning

A scientist and instrument builder working at the edge of what can be seen — developing advanced microscopy systems, optical tools, and open platforms that extend the reach of scientific discovery.

Brand Character

The site should sit at the intersection of three archetypes — without fully collapsing into any one of them:

  • Research Scientist — intellectual depth, rigorous thinking, peer-credibility
  • Instrument Builder / Engineer — hands-on, systems-minded, technically precise
  • Open Science Builder — community-oriented, platform-minded, future-looking

The site should feel like it belongs to someone who publishes in Nature Methods and also ships code on GitHub — not one or the other.

Positioning Recommendation

Verdict: Balanced mix, leaning "Scientist Portfolio" with "Deep-Tech Builder" energy. Avoid the "research lab" aesthetic (too institutional, loses personal warmth). Avoid pure "deep-tech founder" (too commercial for academic credibility). The sweet spot is a thoughtful, distinguished personal website — like the best academic portfolio sites you have seen, but cleaner and more human.

Distinctiveness Strategy

Most scientist websites fail in one of three ways: they are too dry and CV-like, too generic (template Squarespace), or they oversell with startup language. Yours should avoid all three by prioritizing: long-form serif typography, strong editorial whitespace, a restrained but warm color palette, and copy that sounds like a person — not a grant application.

2. Sitemap

Recommended Final Structure

Your proposed structure is solid. Minor adjustments recommended:

  • Home /
    • Hero · About summary · Research themes · Featured projects · Publications preview · MicroscopyIndex.io feature · Connect section
  • About /about
    • Photo · Narrative bio · Research interests · Timeline · Vision · CV download
  • Research /research
    • Research themes (6 areas) · Active & recent projects · Methods & approaches
  • Publications /publications
    • Featured papers · Full list · Filter by topic/year · DOI/PDF links · Scholar link
  • MicroscopyIndex.io /microscopy-index
    • What it is · Why it matters · Platform pillars · CTA to live site
  • Collaborate /collaborate
    • Speaking · Research collab · Consulting · Open science · Workshops · Philosophy
  • Contact /contact
    • Email · LinkedIn · Scholar/ORCID · Contact form with topic selector

Naming Note

Rename "Speaking / Collaborations / Consulting" → "Collaborate" in the nav. It is shorter, more inviting, and doesn't sound transactional. The page itself covers all three without needing the long label.

Future Expansion Slots

  • /writing — Blog / essays / notes (add when ready)
  • /media — Press mentions, podcast appearances, video talks
  • /cv — Full academic CV as downloadable PDF

3. Homepage Structure

Section-by-Section Wireframe

  • 01 / Hero — Name + bold typographic statement + 1-sentence tagline + short bio paragraph + 2 CTAs + photo/visual + 3 stat callouts
  • 02 / About Strip — Research philosophy quote (left) + 2-paragraph bio summary + keyword tags (right)
  • 03 / Research Themes — Label + section title + 6-card grid with icon, number, title, and description
  • 04 / Featured Projects — Label + section title + 3–4 row list with type tag, title, description, arrow
  • 05 / Publications Preview — Label + section title + 3 publication items (one featured) + link to full list
  • 06 / MicroscopyIndex.io — Dark/accent full-width feature with title, description, 3 platform pillars, CTA
  • 07 / Connect — Label + section title + 4-card grid + centered CTA button
  • 08 / Footer — Logo + tagline + nav columns + legal + social

Scroll Logic

The homepage should tell a story in sequence: Who you are → What you work on → What you have built → What you have published → Your major initiative → How to work with you. Each section should feel inevitable after the previous one.

4. Core Copy

Hero — Headline Options

Option A (used in demo)

Imaging the invisible. Building what's missing.

Option B

Seeing further. Building better. Sharing openly.

Option C — More personal

I build the instruments that ask the questions.

Hero Tagline

Recommended

Advanced microscopy, optics, and scientific instrumentation — across the boundary between what can be seen and what can be built.

Hero Bio (1 paragraph)

Draft

I design and build tools that extend the reach of science — from novel microscopy systems and optical instrumentation to open platforms for the global imaging community. My work sits at the intersection of physics, engineering, and scientific discovery.

About Page Opening

Draft

My research sits at the intersection of optical physics, instrument design, and nanoscience. I am interested in questions that require new tools to answer — and in building those tools with the care and rigor that science demands.

MicroscopyIndex.io Description

Platform Introduction

Microscopy is a vast and fragmented field. Instruments, protocols, datasets, analysis tools, and hard-won expertise are scattered across thousands of papers, lab wikis, and individual memories. MicroscopyIndex.io exists to bring this knowledge together in one open, structured, and community-maintained resource.

Collaborate Page Opening

Draft

I believe the most interesting science happens at boundaries — between disciplines, between academia and industry, between the lab and the world outside it. I am always interested in conversations that cross those boundaries.

Copy Principles

  • Write in first person. Be direct and human, not institutional.
  • Avoid "passionate about" — show the passion through specific claims.
  • Prefer active verbs: "I design," "I build," "I study" — not "my research involves."
  • Never use "world-class," "cutting-edge," or "state-of-the-art" without qualification.
  • Let the work speak; frame your role accurately and without inflation.
  • Italics and serif fonts carry emphasis — use sparingly in copy for effect.

5. Visual System

Typography

Cormorant Garamond — Display & Headings
DM Sans — Body text, UI labels, and navigation
DM Mono — Labels, tags, metadata, and numbers

This trio creates a sophisticated hierarchy: the Garamond brings intellectual warmth and editorial gravitas; DM Sans provides modern legibility; DM Mono adds a precise, technical edge that suits the scientific context without feeling cold.

Color Palette

#0e0e0e
Ink
#f8f6f2
Paper
#1a4a6b
Accent
#c4894a
Amber
#ffffff
White

The palette is intentionally restrained. The warm off-white paper background prevents clinical coldness. The deep teal-navy accent evokes scientific precision and depth. The amber is used sparingly — for featured items, decorative rules, and warm highlights — to avoid the palette feeling cold or corporate.

Spacing & Layout

  • Section vertical padding: clamp(5rem, 10vw, 9rem) — generous breathing room
  • Content max-width: 1200px
  • Horizontal gutter: clamp(1.5rem, 5vw, 4rem)
  • Use 1px rules and subtle borders to structure without weight
  • Sticky TOC or nav on long pages

Image Usage

  • Professional headshot: use in About page sidebar and hero
  • Lab/instrument photography: use in research and project sections
  • Avoid stock photos entirely — use your own images or none
  • Microscopy images (false-color, high quality) work beautifully as section accents
  • Keep image treatments consistent: slight desaturation, clean edges, no filters

Design References

  • Editorial: Monocle, Wallpaper*, Works That Work — for typographic restraint
  • Scientific: Quantum journal, Howard Hughes HHMI researcher profiles
  • Portfolio: Bruno Simon, Robin Noguier — for thoughtful structure
  • Startups: Linear, Vercel — for clean monochrome sophistication

6. Navigation & Footer

Navigation Bar

Left: Name logo (serif, links to home)

Right: Home · About · Research · Publications · MicroscopyIndex.io · Collaborate · Get in Touch (CTA button)

Behavior: transparent on load, frosted-glass white on scroll. On mobile: hamburger with slide-in drawer.

Footer Structure

  • Column 1: Name, tagline, brief site description
  • Column 2: Navigation — Home, About, Research, Publications
  • Column 3: Initiatives — MicroscopyIndex.io, Collaborate, Contact
  • Column 4: Connect — Email, LinkedIn, Google Scholar, ORCID
  • Bottom bar: Copyright · Privacy (minimal) · "Built by [You]" optional

7. Calls to Action

Primary CTAs (high-commitment)

  • "Start a Conversation →" — Contact page entry point
  • "Visit MicroscopyIndex.io ↗" — Platform launch CTA
  • "Explore My Work →" — Research section entry

Secondary CTAs (low-commitment)

  • "View Full Publication List →"
  • "Download CV" — sidebar on About page
  • "Learn More →" — MicroscopyIndex.io teaser on homepage
  • "About Me" — paired with primary CTA on hero

CTA Tone Guidance

Avoid generic phrases like "Click here," "Learn more" (when used alone), or "Get started." Every CTA should feel like a natural continuation of the sentence before it. Use specific, action-oriented language that matches what the visitor will actually find.

8. Dynamic Content

What Should Be Easy to Update

  • Publications list — Add new papers as published. Consider a simple JSON/YAML data file if using a static site generator.
  • Projects section — Add new projects; retire completed ones to an archive.
  • Stats in hero — Update publication count, project milestones periodically.
  • MicroscopyIndex.io page — Update as the platform grows.
  • Speaking/talks list — Add past and upcoming talks.
  • CV PDF — Replace the linked PDF file when updated.

What Can Stay Static

About page narrative, research themes, positioning copy, and design elements. These should evolve intentionally, not frequently.

Optional Future: Blog/Notes

When you are ready, add a /writing section. Keep entries focused: research reflections, instrument design thinking, open science commentary. This adds SEO value and shows intellectual range beyond the publication list.

9. Technical Recommendations

Recommended Stack

  • Framework: Astro (best for content-heavy, performance-first personal sites) or Next.js (if you want more interactivity later)
  • Styling: Tailwind CSS or hand-crafted CSS (as in this demo)
  • Content: MDX or CMS (Notion API, Contentful, or plain Markdown files) for publications and projects
  • Hosting: Vercel (free tier, excellent performance, easy deployment)
  • Domain: yourname.com — keep it simple
  • Analytics: Plausible or Fathom (privacy-respecting, fits the ethos)
  • Contact form: Formspree or Resend for backend-free form handling

Performance Guidelines

  • Target Lighthouse score: 95+ across all categories
  • Use font-display: swap for web fonts
  • Lazy-load all images below the fold
  • Keep animations CSS-only where possible
  • No unnecessary JavaScript libraries

SEO Basics

  • Unique <title> and <meta description> per page
  • Open Graph tags for all pages (for sharing)
  • Schema.org Person markup for your homepage
  • Clean, descriptive URLs (no /page-1 or UUIDs)

10. Tone & Character

Voice Guidelines

  • Precise, not academic — write as a brilliant person talking to a peer, not as if you are defending a thesis
  • Confident, not boastful — let your record speak; frame your role accurately
  • Curious, not exhaustive — tease the depth rather than listing everything
  • Warm but not informal — first person, occasional contractions, no slang

What Makes This Site Distinctive

  • Cormorant Garamond as a display face is unusual for science websites — gives immediate editorial distinction
  • The warm off-white background signals thoughtfulness rather than corporate cleanliness
  • Monospaced labels for metadata create a "scientific instrument readout" feel
  • The MicroscopyIndex.io section treated as a first-class feature (not a footnote) demonstrates ambition and scope beyond typical researcher sites
  • The amber accent is unexpected and warm — feels human, not tech-startup

What to Avoid

  • Purple gradients on white (generic AI-era aesthetic)
  • Generic sans-serif typography throughout
  • Stock photography of laboratories
  • Buzzword-heavy copy: "passionate," "cutting-edge," "disruptive"
  • Listing every publication, talk, and award on the homepage
  • A website that could belong to anyone — every section should feel specific to you