David Chen

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Laser sources (CW, pulsed, fiber, diode, external cavity)

Passive and active optics (AOM, EOM, Pockels cell, liquid crystal), interferometry, imaging technology (PMT, CCD, CMOS)

Digital and analog electronics (microcontrollers, FPGA, DSP, DDS, PLL, radio and microwave), PCB design and low-volume production, feedback control (PID, fuzzy, adaptive)

Lab automation and measurement (multimeter, function generator, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, power meter)

C, C++, Java, Python, Labview, Verilog

Matlab, Mathematica, Jupyter

Zemax, SolidWorks, Spice, KiCad

SOFT SKILLS

Worked in close collaboration with biologists, physicists, and computer scientists

Mentored two Ph.D. students on optics, electronics, and image analysis

EXPERIENCE

2015 to present - Postdoctoral researcher at the Myers Lab, MPI-CBG and CSBD – More –

Conceptualized and built a novel multifocal laser scanner that overcomes the low throughput of two-photon microscopy. Paved the way towards imaging centimeter-scale biological tissues at high speed and high resolution
Independently established a new laboratory for mesoscopic imaging. Fully responsible for purchasing all the scientific equipment and building blocks for a bespoke two-photon microscope (lasers, optics, electronics, mechanics, and control system). Planned and conducted the project from concept to completion with minimal supervision. Co-managed the budget (>$800k). Established relationships with vendors
Relied on CAD tools for fast and cost-effective prototyping (Zemax, SolidWorks, Spice, KiCad)
Created solutions for handling terabytes of data. Digitally reconstructed entire organs
Designed and built off-the-shelf electronic solutions for laser microscopy. Developed control software on an FPGA with low latency and nanosecond precision
Worked in close collaboration with biologists and computer scientists in a multidisciplinary environment
Mentored and supported other lab members in their projects

EDUCATION

2015 - Ph.D. in Atomic and Optical Physics, University of Illinois
Dissertation: Strongly correlated dynamics of ultracold atoms in optical lattices – download
Adviser: Prof. Brian DeMarco – More –

I used ultracold gases to investigate emergent states in strongly correlated systems (publications [2-6]). To this end, I trapped, cooled, and manipulated atomic gases with extremely high precision by means of advanced electro-optical and magneto-optical techniques, such as optical lattices and stimulated Raman scattering

Applied advanced electro-optical techniques to experiments in atomic, molecular, and optical physics (external cavity diode laser, Mach-Zehnder interferometry, magneto-optical traps, optical lattices, Raman laser stimulation)
Built custom electronics (arbitrary RF generator, PLL, DDS, feedback control)
Used theoretical models in quantum and statistical physics to analyze and simulate experiments

2007 - B.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Chile
Dissertation: Surface characterization of gold films via scanning tunneling microscopy (in Spanish) – download
Adviser: Prof. Raul Munoz – More –

I used scanning tunneling microscopy to characterize the surface roughness of thin metallic films. Our group investigated the effect of electron-surface scattering on electronic transport properties (publication [1]).

2007 - B.S. in Physics, University of Chile

PUBLICATIONS

[7] D. Chen, F. Segovia, N. Walker, J. Valenzuela, M. Zerial, E. Myers, "Bridging scales in scattering tissues via multifocal two-photon microscopy", bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.11.146704

[6] D. Chen, C. Meldgin, P. Russ, B. DeMarco, and E. Mueller. "Disappearance of quasiparticles in a Bose lattice gas", Phys. Rev. A, A 94, 021601(R) (2016)

[5] C. Meldgin, U. Ray, P. Russ, D. Chen, D. Ceperley, and B. DeMarco. "Probing the Bose glass-superfluid transition using quantum quenches of disorder", Nature Physics 12, 646–649 (2016)

[4] D. Chen, C. Meldgin, and B. DeMarco. "Bath-induced band decay of a Hubbard lattice gas", Phys. Rev. A 90, 013602 (2014)

[3] D. McKay, C. Meldgin, D. Chen, and B. DeMarco. "Slow thermalization between a lattice and free bose gas", Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 063002 (2013)

[2] D. Chen, M. White, C. Borries, and B. DeMarco. "Quantum Quench of an Atomic Mott Insulator", Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 235304 (2011)

[1] R. Munoz, J. García, R. Henríquez, A. Moncada, A. Espinosa, M. Robles, G. Kremer, L. Moraga, S. Cancino, J. Morales, A. Ramírez, S. Oyarzún, M. Antonio Suárez, D. Chen, E. Zumelzu, and C. Lizama. "Hall effect induced by electron-surface scattering on thin gold films deposited onto mica substrates under high vacuum", Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 206803 (2006)