Embedded Files
Talks
Talks
Democratizing Optical Tweezers: CAD Innovations for a Cost-Effective, 3D Printable Design of an Inverted Microscope with Laser Path Integration
Democratizing Optical Tweezers: CAD Innovations for a Cost-Effective, 3D Printable Design of an Inverted Microscope with Laser Path Integration
Author: Jaral Arroyo-Jefferson
Supervisor: E. GraceOptical tweezers, a revolutionary tool in the field of biophysics and nanotechnology, have enabled precise manipulation and study of microscopic objects using focused laser beams. Traditionally, constructing optical tweezers has been a cost-prohibitive endeavor for smaller universities and high schools, costing at least $20,000 and requiring intricate optical setups and custom-built components. These barriers have limited its use to universities and research laboratories. However, with advancements in additive manufacturing technologies, particularly 3D printing, a promising opportunity now exists to democratize the fabrication of optical tweezers. The OpenFlexure Project develops and provides open-source 3D print files for high-precision mechanical positioning systems for microscopes and micromanipulators. The goal of our project is to innovate on OpenFlexure’s Low-cost inverted microscope design allowing for optical tweezing capabilities. This presentation will discuss the design of optical component housing, and additional updates to the existing CAD files to allow for the guidance of the laser beam path into the microscope and the beam path out for data acquisition. With this project, we plan to develop an open-source and cost-effective 3D printable optical tweezing setup that enables students around the world to develop essential hands-on research skills that are applicable in the fields of optics and biophysics.
Analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy through Python Coding: A High Schooler-Led Research Initiative
Analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy through Python Coding: A High Schooler-Led Research Initiative
Author: Mia Campbell
Supervisor: E. GraceLaser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), coupled with Pythonic algorithms, is a powerful analytic tool in determining the presence of certain elements. A LIBS system was donated to Ransom Everglades School in Miami FL to encourage high school research. To use this technology, it is necessary to develop robust code for analysis on accessible and cost-effective platforms. My research has focused on overseeing the development of algorithms in Python to analyze the spectra of materials using National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) wavelength data. We compiled documentation on abundant elements, read in the emission peaks of samples, and identified them as their closest corresponding elements. We developed these algorithms with data we collected from pennies. With their more predictable data, the pennies were utilized in establishing a baseline, on which we created reliable predictions of composition and validated our code. Moving forward, this program will be further refined and applied to ecological studies, where data is more variable and less predictable. In the future, the code will be more sensitive to never-before-seen peaks, applicable to detecting trace metals in water, soil, or biological samples.This analysis project is distinctive in that it is a team composed and led by high school students, challenging the limits of what can be achieved at this level.
Open Source Tweezing: Developing a Cost-Effective Optical Tweezing Platform - Assembly, Control Systems, and Replicability for Educational Access
Open Source Tweezing: Developing a Cost-Effective Optical Tweezing Platform - Assembly, Control Systems, and Replicability for Educational Access
Author: Mateo Heitner
Supervisor: E. GraceOptical tweezers have become an indispensable tool in fields ranging from biology to physics to quantum computing, enabling precise manipulation of microscopic particles using a focused laser beam. However, traditional systems cost over \$20,000, limiting their use to well-funded institutions and laboratories. Our goal is to reduce the system cost to under \$5,000, making this technology more accessible to high schools and underfunded undergraduate programs. This lower cost would provide affordable access to advanced tools and help foster hardware skills required for a quantum-ready workforce. Our project develops a cost-effective optical tweezing system using the OpenFlexure Project’s 3D-printed inverted microscope. This presentation will focus on the integration and testing of the control system for the microscope. Specifically, it will emphasize the development of a replicable stage movement via stepper motors using proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithms on a Raspberry Pi. Additionally, we are preparing the project for replication and scalability by creating a bill of materials (BOM), assembly manual, and user-friendly codebase, which will enable adoption by users with minimal technical expertise. Our goal is to empower educational and small research labs to replicate the system easily, fostering hands-on learning and research across diverse institutions.
Dirty Physics: Applications of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in Soil Sample Analysis
Dirty Physics: Applications of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in Soil Sample Analysis
Author: Carlos Horcasitas
Supervisor: E. GraceThroughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, the EPA has designated abandoned properties that previous industrial or commercial activities left contaminated as “brownfields,” or areas considered unsafe for development due to high levels of pollutants and contaminants. The soil in these areas often contains arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals that threaten local ecosystems and residents. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) can be a powerful tool for identifying trace amounts of heavy metals in organic samples. When the laser ionizes the surface of a sample, each element within the sample emits unique spectra. Using a LIBS system that includes a Nd:YAG 1064 laser, OceanView software for data collection, and a Python-based analysis system, soil samples from land bordering brownfield sites in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will be analyzed to determine whether heavy metals from these sites have contaminated surrounding areas. My research focuses on determining the ideal soil sample preparation for optimizing data acquisition when the LIBS ablates the sample. Further, I am working to optimize the LIBS system using optical alignment techniques and instrumentation research for noise reduction. This project is part of a broader research effort to increase access to original research for high school students while contributing to environmental research in South Florida.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the Rapid Detection of Heavy Metals in Sargassum
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the Rapid Detection of Heavy Metals in Sargassum
Author: Dieter Manstein
Supervisor: E. GraceA major influx of pelagic Sargassum spp. (sargasso) into the Atlantic coast of Florida has had a negative impact on the coastal environment, the local tourism and economy since 2011. Sargassum has a high capacity to absorb metals and recent studies using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) found high arsenic levels in sargasso on the Caribbean coast. As a result, leachates of sargasso cause toxic contamination of the sea and the groundwater if deposited in soil. A faster detection method uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and can quickly dictate proper repurposing of the algae. Arsenic-free Sargassum can be repurposed as livestock feed and fertilizer. Yet, arsenic-containing Sargassum should not come in contact with humans and may be repurposed to produce sustainable aviation fuel and battery-grade graphite. Our research utilizes LIBS to detect and quantify the concentration of arsenic in Sargassum. With emission peaks at 189-m, 193-m and 278-nm, we use a special spectrophotometer with an optical fiber diffuser adapted to our current setup. Emission data will be collected for 20 samples from each of three beaches. The fast detection of arsenic with LIBS makes it an ideal technology for testing Sargassum samples in Florida beaches and deciding repurposing channels.
Sharks + Lasers: Engaging Students in Biophysics Research Through Physics Courses
Sharks + Lasers: Engaging Students in Biophysics Research Through Physics Courses
Authors: Emily Grace, Heather Marshall, and Kristine Stump
Biophysics has seen a surge of groundbreaking discoveries and research advancements over the past few decades. While biophysics is a growing field, many physics courses do not connect principles to applications within the biological sciences. This disconnect persists when instructors lack biophysics backgrounds, often delaying students' discovery of biophysics until late in their undergraduate or graduate studies. Over the past 4 years, I have collaborated with biochemistry, molecular biology, and physiology researchers to design advanced physics courses that connect biological applications to fundamental physics concepts. To further engage students in South Florida, I have collaborated with marine biologists to focus my applications around local shark species and their ecology. A key component of these courses has centered on engaging students in original research involving laser applications to answer biological questions. I have been working with a team of students in and out of my classroom on adapting previous studies using optical tweezers to study shark muscle function. I have done this successfully at the undergraduate and now high school levels. This has produced several students who have pursued fields in or related to biophysics. This talk will explore the process of integrating biology into physics education, offering insights from a physicist's perspective with a Ph.D. in astroparticle physics and discuss the broader potential of this model for engaging students in biophysics.
Posters Presentations
Posters Presentations
Laser Breakdown Spectroscopic Analysis of Soil and Sargassum
Laser Breakdown Spectroscopic Analysis of Soil and Sargassum
Authors: Gemma Bucci, Dominique Cederberg, Alexandra Russoniello, Virginia Seabrook, Leah Vela, H. Marshall, K. Stump, and E. Grace
Note: Won undergraduate poster prize.
Due to its toxicity and persistence, the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the environment poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems and public health. In decomposing sargassum, toxic gasses produced by heavy metals, like arsenic, can cause detrimental effects on human health including respiratory and neurocognitive issues. Organisms who feed on sargassum can absorb these metals, leading to DNA damage and malignancies. Crops grown on sargassum-enriched soil contain high concentrations of these contaminants, which can be carried through the food chain and infect entire ecosystems. Brownfields also contain hazardous levels of contamination within their soil, causing complications with land use. Although redevelopment programs reduce health hazards, not all pollutants are removed, and can still be an environmental or public risk. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an atomic emission spectroscopy technique that analyzes specific elemental compositions of materials. LIBS utilizes short laser pulses to erode the sample surfaces, allowing the laser to determine elemental composition. This study focuses on using LIBS to determine the heavy metal composition of sargassum and soil in order to recognize the harmful impacts it has on the environment. Our research covers methods of sample preparation of sargassum and soil for optical analysis in the LIBS set up, and also presents the spectra data we have obtained from these samples. This work is a part of a larger study focused on the South Florida ecosystem.
Integrated Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Pythonic Algorithms for Analysis of Penny Composition and Beyond
Integrated Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Pythonic Algorithms for Analysis of Penny Composition and Beyond
Authors: Mario Antonaccio, Mia Escoto Cordova, Minnie Zhou, H. Marshall, K. Stump, and E. Grace
Pythonic algorithms are powerful tools for spectral analysis, determining the presence of certain elements by analyzing the spectra produced by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The LIBS setup used for data acquisition utilizes an Nd:YAG 1064 nm pulsed infrared laser to excite penny samples for spectral analysis. A set of algorithms was developed to compile and analyze the emission peaks of pennies using National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) wavelength data to identify specific metals in penny samples. These programs detect excited metal atoms and ions through their characteristic emission peaks. These algorithms not only automate spectral line identification but also optimize peak detection by accounting for noise and signal variations. Insights from penny composition algorithms pave the way for expanding LIBS applications to environmental monitoring, such as detecting trace metals in water, soil, or biological samples. Utilizing robust code that can analyze samples with predictable composition boosts confidence in determining the makeup of unknown samples. As the algorithms improve, they become instrumental in identifying contaminants in more complex, heterogeneous samples, supporting environmental sustainability and public health initiatives. This research advances LIBS applications and provides an educational platform, engaging high school students in a hands-on experience at the crossroads of physics, chemistry, environmental science, and beyond.
Infrared Optical Tweezer: Instrumentation and Data Acquisition System
Infrared Optical Tweezer: Instrumentation and Data Acquisition System
Authors: Myles Gelber, Michael Mederos, Lily Namias, H. Marshall, K. Stump, and E. Grace
Optical tweezers have driven advancements in many projects, from cells to nanomaterial research, and are now being used in high school settings for research. Using a laser and optics to manipulate microscopic objects with light, optical tweezers are used to study molecular motors and DNA. We aim to make an impact at our school and beyond by fostering hands-on exploration and original research with an infrared (IR) optical tweezer. Our project focuses on data acquisition and positioning systems. One key component is the quadrant photodiode (QPD), which detects the laser beam’s position, measuring light intensity across its four sections. This project focuses on developing the system to use the QPD to track particle movement. Subsequently, the back focal detection system measures the force exerted on trapped particles by detecting changes in the laser’s focus. We will learn to align and operate the back focal detection system, allowing us to quantify forces. By analyzing the data, we'll gain experience with techniques used in research labs. The construction of this optical tweezer system is part of a broader initiative at Ransom Everglades to introduce students to research. Our project’s ultimate goal is to provide students with opportunities to answer physics questions by utilizing optical tweezers for data analysis.
Developing Affordable Optical Tweezers to Enhance Research Opportunities and Skills for Students
Developing Affordable Optical Tweezers to Enhance Research Opportunities and Skills for Students
Authors: Nohan Gomez, Ian Villaraos, Neale Villaraos, Maximillian Wolfensberger, R. DuBard, H. Marshall, K. Stump, and E. Grace
Increasing interest in advanced computing technologies, such as quantum computing, has amplified the need for a workforce with specialized expertise. One tool used in quantum and other relevant new fields of research and industry is the optical tweezer, a specialized microscope that uses laserbeams to trap and manipulate microscopic particles. Many high schools and smaller universities struggle to afford these setups which can cost upwards of \$20,000. We aim to improve accessibility with a budget-friendly optical tweezing setup based on the OpenFlexure Project's open-source microscope platform, reducing costs to $3,000-$4,000 while maintaining precision. Our design integrates a laser module and utilizes stepper motor control via a Raspberry Pi, featuring a custom proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller for the stage to ensure sub-micron positioning accuracy. We are planning on providing documentation of assembly, protocols, control software, and calibration procedures for easy replication. This system retains core microscope functions while adding optical tweezing capabilities, making it ideal for educational and research applications. By offering detailed documentation, we enhance access to this vital technology for high schools and underfunded institutions, preparing young researchers for careers in quantum technologies and other new industries meeting the growing workforce demand.
From Beams to Biomolecules: Calibrating and Constructing an IR Optical Tweezer for Shark Muscle Analysis
From Beams to Biomolecules: Calibrating and Constructing an IR Optical Tweezer for Shark Muscle Analysis
Authors: Anna Lavernia, Paloma Lopes, Sofia Rakhimi, Ronja Stargala, Heather Marshall, Kristine Stump, and Emily Grace
Optical tweezers are a Nobel Prize-winning technology that traps microscopic and submicroscopic particles with a laser beam. The tweezers rely on radiation pressure from the beam, focused by a microscope objective, and can apply forces to measure displacements in the nanometer range. While optical tweezing has been used to study a variety of biomolecules, we aim to adapt this technology to study the locomotor muscles of sharks, potentially applying the technology to other marine life taxa. Some studies use optical tweezing to study biomolecules of other fishes, but it is an underexplored field. Our goal is to isolate titin—a protein found in muscle fibers that contributes to their passive elasticity—to better understand the elasticity of sarcomeres in shark swimming muscles. This project involves the construction and calibration of the optical tweezing setup, including aligning the IR (infrared laser), optimizing data acquisition, and developing research skills related to the construction of the research setup. We work in tandem with marine research students that are developing methods for accurate titin isolation from white muscle in various shark species to understand the ecological implications of our findings. This is part of the broader goal of developing interdisciplinary research collaboration with high school students.
APS DAMOP 2025
APS DAMOP 2025
Building a Quantum-Ready Workforce: Engaging High School Students in Optical Tweezer Design and Construction
Building a Quantum-Ready Workforce: Engaging High School Students in Optical Tweezer Design and Construction
Authors: Emily Grace and Eric Jones
Preparing students for the quantum workforce requires more than just coursework, it demands hands-on engagement with experimental techniques foundational to quantum technologies. Over the past two years, I have worked with high school students to design and build a cost-effective optical tweezer system using a HeNe laser and a 3D-printed inverted microscope. Through this process, students developed essential lab skills, including optical alignment, laser safety, imaging techniques, and system troubleshooting skills all directly applicable to quantum research and industry. Optical tweezers play a central role in both neutral atom and ion quantum computing, where they are used to trap and manipulate individual atoms or ions for scalable qubit arrays. While our system operates at room temperature rather than in ultracold regimes, students gain firsthand experience with optical trapping principles that are directly relevant to atom-based quantum computing platforms. By focusing on cost-effective design, they also make advanced optical techniques more accessible, broadening participation in quantum-related research. This project prepares students for future study and careers in quantum science and fosters innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that the next generation of scientists and engineers is equipped to contribute to a more diverse and widely accessible quantum ecosystem.
YREP Authorship Policy: At YREP, we list all student researchers on a project in alphabetical order by last name on all posters, presentations, and reports. This policy applies regardless of individual contribution and is intended to foster a spirit of collaboration and shared discovery. Faculty mentors are listed after the students, with the final author position reserved for the principal investigator (PI) overseeing the project.
Note: Student authors are denoted in Bold Font.
APS stands for American Physical Society.DAMOP stands for Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics.
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