NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2012

职务名称：鸟类视锥油滴的光学特性自从显微镜出现以来，鸟类视锥光感受器中色彩鲜艳的油滴就吸引了生物学家，但对其功能的确切理解仍然难以捉摸。油滴位于内节和外节之间，完美地过滤和聚焦光到感光视觉色素上。因此，鸟类锥油滴可以用作复杂的光子器件：（1）通过充当长通光谱滤波器以修改到达外段的光谱来增强行为颜色辨别，以及（2）作为具有针对每种不同锥类型内的光透射优化的自组装液晶顺序的聚焦元件。为了测试这些假设，该项目将跨越生物学和物理学的交叉点，将油滴色素沉着的分子遗传操作（通过RNA干扰）与色觉的行为测试相结合，以及油滴分子结构和光透射的先进光学测量（数字全息显微镜）。这个项目具有广泛的意义，因为彩色的锥油滴是一种进化古老的适应明亮的陆地环境的多样性的动物共享。了解视锥油滴的光学和行为功能有可能揭示以前未知的视觉能力和适应机制。培训目标是培养对分子生物学和光学物理方法的理解和技术能力，这将使研究员能够在生物学，化学和物理学的交叉点上建立研究计划。此外，该研究员还将接受通过书面材料和正式及非正式演讲向各种受众传播科学的培训。

Title: The optics of avian cone oil dropletsThe brilliantly colored oil droplets within the cone photoreceptors of birds have fascinated biologists since the dawn of microscopy, yet a conclusive understanding of their function has remained elusive. Located between the inner and outer segments, oil droplets are perfectly situated to filter and focus the light onto the photoreceptive visual pigment. Thus avian cone oil droplets may function as sophisticated photonic devices: (1) enhancing behavioral color discrimination by acting as long-pass spectral filters to modify the spectrum of light reaching the outer segment and (2) as focusing elements with a self-assembled liquid crystalline order optimized for light transmission within each different cone type. To test these hypotheses, the project will span the intersection of biology and physics combining molecular genetic manipulations of oil droplet pigmentation (via RNA interference) with behavioral tests of color vision, and advanced optical measurements (digital holographic microscopy) of the oil droplet molecular structure and light transmission. This project has broad implications because colorful cone oil droplets are an evolutionarily ancient adaptation to bright terrestrial environments shared by a diversity of animals. Understanding of the optical and behavioral function cone oil droplets has the potential to reveal previously unknown visual capabilities and adaptive mechanisms.The training goals are to develop an understanding in, and technical competency with, molecular biological and optical physics approaches that will allow the fellow to build a research program at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and physics. Additionally, the fellow will receiving training in the communication of science to various audiences through written materials and formal and informal presentations.