Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Photoacoustic Endoscopy

Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – Photoacoustic Endoscopy

National Center for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Highly motivated post‑docs are sought to develop advanced image acquisition, signal processing, and real‑time computational imaging methods for next‑generation ultra‑compact photoacoustic endoscopy systems within the NIH‑funded P41 Imaging Center. The Center provides a collaborative translational environment focused on optical, acoustic, molecular, and AI‑enabled imaging technologies for in vivo biomedical applications. The successful candidate will help develop high‑speed volumetric imaging platforms integrating fiber‑coupled optical excitation, MEMS‑based ultrasound array sensors, multi‑channel data acquisition, GPU‑accelerated reconstruction, and AI‑enhanced image processing for minimally invasive imaging of luminal organs.

• Develop and optimize high‑speed multi‑channel acquisition pipelines for real‑time 2D/3D imaging.
• Implement beamforming, filtered back‑projection, GPU‑accelerated reconstruction, and real‑time visualization algorithms using MATLAB, CUDA, LabVIEW, FPGA, and related platforms.
• Perform quantitative image analysis, motion correction, denoising, frame registration, and volumetric reconstruction for in vivo imaging datasets.
• Integrate image acquisition systems with MEMS‑based acoustic array sensors, optical excitation modules, and flexible endoscopic instrumentation.
• Optimize synchronization of lasers, acoustic sensing, translation stages, and acquisition hardware to maximize spatial resolution, imaging depth, frame rate, and SNR.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in biomedical optics, MEMS engineering, AI, gastroenterology, and pathology to support translational imaging studies and preclinical validation.
• Contribute to system development, publications, grant applications, and clinical translation efforts.

• Ph.D. in Biomedical Eng, Optical Eng, Applied Physics, Computer Science, or related field.
• Strong background in biomedical optics, photoacoustic imaging, computational imaging, and/or high‑speed image acquisition systems.
• Experience with multi‑channel data acquisition, real‑time signal processing, beamforming, volumetric reconstruction, and GPU‑accelerated computing.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, CUDA, LabVIEW, FPGA, Python, or related platforms.
• Experience with fiber‑coupled optical systems, ultrasound/acoustic array sensors, or hybrid optical–acoustic imaging instrumentation is desirable.
• Familiarity with image processing methods including motion correction, denoising, frame registration, and 3D volumetric visualization.
• Hands‑on experience with system integration, prototyping, and validation of imaging instrumentation for biomedical applications is preferred.

The University of Michigan is an ideal training ground for postdocs who want to further develop their skills in pursuit of a career in academia or industry. Salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience and in compliance with NIH guidelines. The Wang Laboratory is located in the Biomedical Science Research Building (BSRB) on the University of Michigan medical campus.

The laboratory is equipped with 4 optical tables that contain a variety of mounts, positioners, and stages for development of prototype flexible fiber‑coupled endomicroscopes located in 3 laboratory modules ~450 sq ft in size. A wide range of equipment, including function generators, spectrometer, laser beam profiler, optical spectrum analyzer, oscilloscopes, photomultiplier tube (PMT) detectors, and power supplies are available for use.

Software, including Zemax, Solid Works, Matlab, and Labview, is used to perform optical and mechanical simulations and data acquisition. Light sources include Spectra‑Physics Deep See and Insight X3 femtosecond lasers, Edgewave diode pumped Q‑switched Nd‑YAG laser, Opotek Phocus laser with optical parametric oscillator (OPO), and a number of solid state lasers with excitation over the visible and NIR spectrum. Imaging systems available include Endra Nexus 128 photoacoustic…