CAREER: Dielectric-Filled Nanowaveguides for Advanced Imaging and Sensing

拟议的综合研究和教育活动的目标是，通过本科生指导、课程开发和外展活动，推进一种使用介电填充纳米波导轨的超分辨率成像和传感的新方法，并使所有学生，特别是在科学和工程领域历史上代表性不足的少数群体，更容易获得科学和工程教育的机会。这项研究将集中在研究介电填充纳米波导器件的光学性质以及这些纳米波导器件在超分辨率成像和单分子光谱中的应用。本研究的目标是：(1)制备硅填充纳米波导体并探索其他填充材料的可能性；(2)详细表征纳米波导体的远场传输特性和近场强度分布；(3)设计纳米波导体器件并在近场光学扫描显微镜上进行测试；(4)将这些器件应用于生物医学和生物技术研究，以解决这些领域中具有挑战性的问题。教育活动的目的是使所有学生，特别是在科学和工程方面历史上代表性不足的少数群体，更容易获得科学和工程教育的机会。为了实现这一目标，将采取以下方法：(1)通过学生和PI之间的一对一互动来指导本科生研究；(2)将研究融入教学中的新课程开发和课程创新；以及(3)通过导师参与哈莱姆儿童协会和纽约州教育局的科学与技术进入计划(STEP)等项目来开展外联活动。

0953645XuThe goals of the proposed integrated research and educational activities are to advance a novel approach for super-resolution imaging and sensing using dielectric-filled nanowaveguides and to make opportunities in science and engineering education more accessible to all students, especially historically underrepresented minorities in science and engineering through undergraduate mentoring, curriculum development and outreach activities. The research will focus on the study of optical properties of dielectric-filled nanowaveguides and the application of these nanowaveguide devices to super-resolution imaging and single molecule spectroscopy. The objectives of this research are to: (1) fabricate silicon-filled nanowaveguides and explore the possibility of other filling materials, (2) characterize in detail the far-field transmission properties and near-field intensity profiles of the nanowaveguides, (3) engineer nanowaveguide devices and test them on a near-field optical scanning microscope, and (4) apply these devices to biomedical and biotechnological research to solve challenging problems in these fields. The objective of the educational activities is to make opportunities in science and engineering education more accessible to all students, especially historically underrepresented minorities in science and engineering. To accomplish this, the following approaches will be taken: (1) undergraduate research mentoring via one-on-one interaction between students and the PI, (2) new course development and curriculum innovation that incorporates research into teaching, and (3) outreach activities through mentor participation in programs like the Harlem Children Society and the New York State Education Department's Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP).