In the summer of 2015, Izabella (Izzi) Berman began modifying an epifluorescence microscopy setup to visualize proteins in living cells with improved resolution. As a rising senior physics major, Izzi was interested in learning more about optics through a research experience at a large research institution. Participating in the Yale REU Site “Convergence of Research at the Interface of the Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences,” working in Prof. Simon Mochrie’s laboratory, and being able to present her research at the 2015 REU Symposium in Arlington, VA were instrumental in helping her achieve her career goals. Today, she is a Ph.D. student in Material Science and Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder developing soft optical devices. Her laboratory is interdisciplinary, at the interface of optics and polymer science with applications ranging from computer vision to regenerative medicine. In addition to her undergraduate research experience in optics, she said that “the Yale [REU] definitely helped me in learning how to communicate across different fields.” Way to go, Izzi!
Izabella Berman Beloit College (at time of REU)
