Light-sheet Microscopy Research

As an undergraduate at UCSB I worked in Professor Campas’ Lab. I helped to design, build, and test a light sheet microscope module in order to quickly and inexpensively image zebrafish embryos. I completed the project with a postdoctoral student.  

The postdoc proposed the idea of creating a light sheet attached to a microscope and motor that could quickly scan a sample while images were taken. Then the 2-D images from the light sheet could be combined to create a 3-D image which could be used in Professor Campas’ research to find the forces and stresses that cells undergo during development.

In order to complete the project I was tasked with creating Solidworks designs from the postdoc’s initial ideas to make the light sheet. I completed the modeling and then took my drawings to the machine shop and machined the final design. For precision pieces, I used the CNC machine, and when less accuracy was required I machined manually. Then the postdoc and I assembled the module with the lenses placed the correct distance apart to create the light sheet. I also soldered together a simple electronic circuit and switch for the laser that was used to make the light sheet. After tweaking the module we were able to get viable images of the zebrafish embryo such as the one shown. The entire project spanned nine months, from the initial concept to the final prototype and images captured by the light sheet.