Washington University in St Louis

The Preston M. Green Department of
Electrical & Systems Engineering

We build novel imaging technologies

Lew Lab group photo

The Lew Lab builds advanced imaging systems to study biological and chemical systems at the nanoscale. Our technology leverages innovations in applied optics, signal and image processing, design optimization, and physical chemistry. We partner with scientists and engineers across all disciplines to develop technologies to solve unmet needs in science, medicine, and society.

Diversity fosters creative ideas to challenging problems

Lew Lab diversity and inclusion
Poster courtesy of sammykatta.com/diversity.

The Lew Lab is a team of inventors, thinkers, and problem solvers working at the intersection of science and technology.

Creating impactful technology is our passion

We invent advanced nanoscopes with nanometer resolution that visualize single molecules in biological and chemical systems. [WebM - 48 MB]
Our novel microscopes robustly measure the 3D positions and 3D orientations of single fluorescent molecules using very little light. [WEBM - 13.0 MB]
Deep learning helps us robustly image molecules' positions and orientations using only 2D camera images with incredible speed and accuracy. [MP4 - 3.97 MB]
Our imaging systems resolve the nanoscale architecture of amyloid peptide aggregates, a key signature of Alzheimer's disease. [WebM - 20.3 MB]

Lab news

Tingting Wu with Imaging Science Program Co-Director Joe Culver Congratulations, Tingting, on receiving a 2023 Outstanding Research Award from the Imaging Science Doctoral Program!

Congratulations, Jasmine, on receiving a 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Award!

Jasmine Cheng's photoBrian Sun's photo Two outstanding undergraduates have received awards this year: Brian with the Rick Grodsky Award for Technical Achievement and the David H. Levy Outstanding Senior Award, and Jasmine with the Russel R. Pfeiffer Outstanding Junior Award! Both were recognized at the 2023 McKelvey Engineers' Honors Ceremony. Congratulations, Brian and Jasmine!

2023 OFSA Winners with Provost Beverly Wendland and Vice Provost Vijay Ramani. Photo credit: Ron Klein. Matt has received a 2023 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Graduate Student Senate. The awardees were recognized at a ceremony organized by the GSS. Thank you, students, for this honor!

BPS 2023 logo The Lew Lab presented several exciting posters and talks at BPS 2023 in San Diego:
- Congratulations to Tingting, who has received a 2023 Travel Award to present at the Annual Meeting!
- Weiyan presented “Single-Molecule Orientation-Localization Microscopy Resolves the Nanoscale Organization of Self-Assembled Peptides,” Poster 627-Pos / B448 in Optical Microscopy and Superresolution Imaging I on Sunday, Feb 19 [Abstract]
- Brian presented “Single-Molecule Orientation-Localization Microscopy Resolves How Amyloidophilic Dye Orientations are Correlated with Amyloid Fiber Growth and Disruption,” Poster 1339-Pos / B468 in Optical Microscopy and Superresolution Imaging II on Monday, Feb 20 [Abstract]
- Matt presented “A Multi-View Reflector Microscope Visualizes Six-Dimensional Single-Molecule Translational And Rotational Dynamics With Isotropic Nanoscale Resolution,” Poster 1351-Pos / B480 in Optical Microscopy and Superresolution Imaging II on Monday, Feb 20 [Abstract]
- Tingting presented “Mapping Inhomogeneous Network Structures within Biomolecular Condensate using Single-Molecule Imaging and Tracking of Fluorogenic Probes,” Platform Talk 1437-Plat in Condensates: Physical Properties and Modeling II on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 9:15 AM [Abstract]

More news...