Overview
The faculty in this area develop advanced imaging technologies and computational methods to visualize biological processes at unprecedented resolution and scale. Research combines cutting-edge microscopy with sophisticated image analysis algorithms—from microfluidic platforms that integrate high-resolution optical imaging with single-cell genomic sequencing, to computational approaches for cryogenic electron microscopy that locate and characterize macromolecular structures directly inside cells.
The impact extends from creating multimodal measurement platforms that reveal correlations between cellular morphology, protein-DNA interactions, and gene expression, to developing tools that visualize how proteins assemble and function in their native cellular environment, providing insights into disease mechanisms and drug-target interactions. By integrating experimental innovations in microfluidics, nonlinear optical microscopy, focused ion beam milling, and cryo-EM with machine learning and advanced image processing algorithms, our researchers bridge the gap between molecular structures and cellular organization. With access to world-class facilities including Berkeley's Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Cal Cryo@QB3, and partnerships with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub and Institute for Advanced Biological Imaging, this work creates new ways to see biology—from single molecules to entire cells—enabling discoveries that inform our understanding of cellular function, disease progression, and therapeutic development.
Primary Faculty
- Bronwyn Lucas, Assistant Professor, CCB and Department of MCB
- Aaron Streets, Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering