In Humar Lab (Lab for Biophotonics, Soft Photonics and Quantum Optics), we develop and pioneer advanced photonics and quantum optics concepts for applications in biological and soft-matter systems. Within the biological studies that will also shape the research focus of the young researcher, biointegrated photonics and biophotonics are rapidly emerging as transformative tools for probing and sensing cellular dynamics with exceptional precision, surpassing the capabilities of even the most advanced optical microscopy. Building on this progress, we demonstrated the first microlaser embedded inside a single living human cell (Nature Photonics) and recently achieved the first laser‑based sensing within native cellular organelles, enabling nanometer‑precision tracking of intracellular dynamics (ACS Sensors). Furthermore, in our latest work on biointegrated photonics, we reported the first demonstration of two‑photon 3D printing of functional microstructures inside living cells (Advanced Materials).
These novel single-cell biophotonics approaches for the assessment of cellular dynamics and cellular heterogeneity are indispensable for understanding various native cellular processes and such as responses to drugs and cell manipulation. If adapted for high-throughput imaging, the approaches would substantially increase sample size and statistical power, improving precision in characterizing biological and morphological heterogeneity and enabling more robust insights into fast transient and early kinetic–dynamic processes within cells and tissues.
PROGRAM
The young researcher will contribute to advancing next‑generation high‑throughput biophotonics by developing and implementing imaging and analysis strategies capable of capturing fast cellular dynamics from single to large populations of cells. Their work will be experimentally-oriented, involving hands‑on training in advanced optical microscopy and spectroscopy, laser‑based measurement techniques, and the operation of custom photonic instrumentation. They will learn to integrate emerging biophotonics concepts with automated imaging workflows, biological and microfluidic sample handling, and computational work for quantitative data analysis and extraction. Through this, the young researcher will gain expertise in high‑content imaging, signal processing, and statistical analysis, enabling them to design and execute experiments that scale from single‑cell to population‑level.
We are looking for a motivated candidate who enjoys hands‑on experimental work and is eager to learn within this interdisciplinary interface of physics and biology – a rapidly evolving field where advanced microscopy, laser‑based techniques, and high‑throughput biophotonics are opening new possibilities for studying dynamic processes in living cells.