Gabi Popescu Awarded 2018 Innovation Award – Miniature Brain Machinery

Congratulations to MBM faculty Gabi Popescu, who received the 2018 Innovation Award by Microscopy Today!

The award was bestowed for the development of Gradient Light Interference Microscopy (GLIM), a low-coherence interference microscopy system. GLIM is a new method that solves the challenge of imaging thick, multicellular samples. Dr. Popescu shares the award with Matthew B. Wheeler, a professor of animal sciences.

Microscopy Today is the official magazine of the Microscopy Society of America.

Overview

Discoveries relevant to our brains, which influence and control such a wide range of actions, emotions, and thoughts, have relied on two complimentary approaches: cognitive and behavior studies and brain cell and tissue biology studies. Our research traineeship program utilizing miniature brain machinery, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), combines these two paradigms to train the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to advance discovery. Our students are recruited from neuroscience, cell and developmental biology, molecular and integrative physiology, chemistry, chemical and biomolecular engineering, bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering, and psychology to foster a culture of innovation and translational research, and will significantly impact efforts to understand and control brain activities ongoing at other institutions.