Lab Members

Ralph Jimenez

Ralph’s interests are in experimental studies of dynamics in complex molecular systems. Over the years, he has worked on a wide range of areas where ultrafast spectroscopy is useful such as femtosecond dynamics of liquids, energy transfer in photosynthetic systems, protein-ligand interactions in antibodies, chromophore dynamics of fluorescent proteins. As part of his research, he has developed a number of optical and microfluidic technologies to advance experimental capabilities in liquid-phase chemical dynamics using time-resolved optical or laser-based x-ray techniques. Most recently he has been exploring applications of quantum optics to molecular spectroscopy.

Affiliations

JILA Fellow

Professor Adjoint, Department of Chemistry

Nancy Douglas

BS: University of Colorado, Boulder - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

PhD: Cornell University - Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology

I manage general lab operations and facilities and support engineering and analysis of fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins.

Richard Erickson

• BS (Mechanical Engineering), Ohio State University
• MBA, Pepperdine University
• Ph.D. (Biochemistry), University of Colorado – Boulder

As a Senior Research Associate at JILA, my work is focused on developing high throughput, analytical instruments to evaluate cyanobacteria and algae for their biofuel/biochemical production potential. These evaluations are performed at the single cell level and are capable of measuring physical properties such as cell size (based on forward scattered light), chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiencies (real-time quantum yield measurements) and lipid production (using lipid-specific fluorescence stains). Previous research concentrated on custom-built, microfluidic cytometers that were used to assess the effect of culture conditions upon lipid production in diatoms (Phaeodactylum tricornutum). Previous collaborations with major research labs investigated synergistic properties of mixed algal/…

Alan McLean

My research at JILA in the Jimenez Group is focused on understanding the nature (magnitude and mechanism) of entangled two-photon absorption (E2PA). By better understanding the nature of E2PA, I would like to develop strategies to employ entangled photons and other forms of quantum light in applied fields such as within the chemical and physical sciences.

Ryan Benson

Classical light sources, like Lasers, have a fundamental limit on how small of a signal they can measure (the Standard Quantum Limit). Quantum light sources can measure signals below this limit, and those with entangled photons have been theorized to produce more efficient rates of Two Photon Absorption. This has led to considerable interest in studying whether quantum light sources can improve biological imaging relative to classical light sources. I aim to investigate this theorized “quantum advantage” using a particular kind of quantum light (Intensity-Difference Squeezed Light) for spectroscopic and fluorescence-lifetime measurements on molecules relevant to biological imaging.

Miles SanSoucie

I am a 4th year graduate student studying the advantages of using quantum light (intensity difference squeezed light) to induce two photon absorption (2PA). I am developing methods for comparing coherent excited 2PA to squeezed light excited 2PA by measuring the fluorescence of commonly used biomarkers. Future directions include integrating this light source into existing microscopy techniques.

Bob

Moral Support

Lila

Moral Support