Fascinating new imaging technology from UC Berkeley physics professor Holger Müller may hold the key to unlocking new insights into our biology. Müller is improving cryo-electron tomography images by using lasers to change how scientists view the microscopic world of our cells. He developed a laser phase plate (LPP) to significantly increase image contrast and the number of molecules — including small and faint objects — that can be seen inside cells. This innovation also enables more effective tomography by reducing specimen exposure to electron beams.
In partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Institute for Advanced Biological Imaging (CZ Imaging Institute), Müller is working to increase access to this breakthrough technology by integrating the laser phase plate into more advanced microscopes so that in the future, more researchers could use it in their own labs.
Join Müller for a behind-the-scenes tour of his lab focused on building new tech to improve electron microscopy and make the invisible visible.
The CZ Imaging Institute aims to push forward the development and application of new imaging technologies over the next 10 to 15 years to obtain deep insights into the architecture of complex biological systems at the molecular level. CZ Imaging Institute partners with Chan Zuckerberg Science in its goal to understand the mysteries of the cell and how cells interact within systems. This collaboration will bring us closer to our mission to cure, prevent, or manage all diseases by the end of the century.
Explore CZ Imaging Institute career opportunities.
