Molecular Imaging and Engineering
Full course description
The development of light microscopy by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century resulted in many scientific discoveries and the establishment of microbiology as a scientific discipline. The development of new imaging technologies and associated fundamental discoveries can similarly lead to groundbreaking progress and new disciplines. This course sets the stage for a new type of professional who understands and addresses contemporary challenges in the field of molecular imaging and engineering. Individual imaging techniques as well as the combination and integration of several imaging techniques, called multimodal imaging, provide large amounts of anatomical, functional and molecular information.
In this course, you are provided with the basic knowledge and tools required to cross the boundaries between scientific and engineering disciplines. You familiarise yourself with fundamental principles of physics, (bio)chemistry and engineering to establish a common theoretical base among students from different educational backgrounds. These fundamental principles underlying the various disciplines within the programme are further explored in lectures, tutorials and skills training sessions within the context of real-life examples and with the involvement of different imaging experts. In addition, students familiarize themselves with the conventions and expectations of the interdisciplinary field of molecular imaging and engineering, the specializations as well as the professional field. In skills training sessions, you gain practical scientific and engineering experience with the principles and laws of relevant engineering fields as well as imaging applications. Overall, the course provides the basis for you to act as an active participant within the programme and in your development as an imaging engineer.
Course objectives
After completing this course, you are able to:
- Explain fundamental principles of physics, (bio)chemistry and engineering and how they apply to different imaging strategies on different length scales.
- Apply fundamental principles of physics, (bio)chemistry and engineering to explain basic imaging concepts, including:
- Explaining resolution sensitivity, contrast and image quality for the design of different imagining techniques
- Dissecting the molecular chemistry and spectroscopy considerations for the design of innovative imaging applications
- Apply imaging and engineering concepts to explain:
- Which imaging technology is optimal for the spatial challenge presented
- How imaging quality relates to magnification, resolution, timescale and other imaging parameters for a particular application domain (i.e. food, astronomical, agricultural, clinical, cultural, toxicology, material science etc.)
- Discuss the complementarity between different imaging techniques from an engineering and molecular perspective, and characterise the multidisciplinary nature of the molecular imaging field
- Apply principles and laws of relevant engineering fields / imaging applications and developing basic hands-on experimental and engineering skills
- Act as active participants within the programme and in your development as imaging engineers.
Recommended reading
- Török, P., & Kao, F.J. (2007). Optical Imaging and Microscopy: Techniques and Advanced Systems (2nd ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69565-3
- National Research Council. (2006). Visualizing Chemistry: The Progress and Promise of Advanced Chemical Imaging. National Academies Press.
- Moore, J.H., Davis, C.C., Coplan, M.A., & Greer, S.C. (2009). Building Scientific Apparatus (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- Khandani, S. (2005). Engineering Design Process. Saylor Academy: https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ME101-4.1-Engineering-Design-Process.pdf