Wenxuan Liang earned his PhD degree also in Biomedical Engineering (BME) from Johns Hopkins University (Maryland, USA). He worked as a postdoc at Columbia University before joining the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2022, affiliated with both School of BME at the Suzhou Institute of Advanced Research (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China) and the School of Physical Sciences (Hefei, Anhui Province, China).

His research focuses on developing enabling optical microscopy and endoscopy technologies primary for in vivo imaging of live biological tissues and life processes. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers on mainstream optics and BME journals including Light: Science and Applications, Nature Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on Medical imaging, etc.

Research Overview

Our research group focuses on advanced in vivo optical microscopy methods, instrumentation, and applications for life sciences (particularly neuroscience/brain science) and clinical diagnostics. The research is inherently highly interdisciplinary, integrating physics, engineering, biology, and medicine.

The group is affiliated with the Medical Physics program in the Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, School of Physical Sciences at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), as well as the Biomedical Engineering program at the USTC Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research. We recruit students through both programs (including M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Engineering and the Professional Master’s program in Electronic Information). Research projects are conducted at both the Hefei campus and the Suzhou campus, often in collaboration with other research groups.

Representative research directions and ongoing projects include (but are not limited to):

• Large–field-of-view, high spatiotemporal resolution SCAPE (Swept Confocally-Aligned Planar Excitation) microscopy for monitoring neuronal population activity across multiple brain regions.

• Integrated 3D microscopy and optogenetic platforms for real-time optical readout and manipulation of whole-brain neural activity in freely swimming zebrafish.

• Development of handheld 3D microscopy probes for noninvasive, real-time in situ pathological imaging.

• Fluorescence endoscopic microscopy methods and instruments for high-resolution close-up imaging of the gastrointestinal tract.

Over the past 4 years, the group has made significant progress in these areas. Our research team has grown steadily, and we have established close collaborations with leading research institutions and expert groups both within USTC and internationally.

Graduate Training Philosophy

Our training philosophy combines personalization and diversity.

• Personalized training: Research topics are designed based on each student’s strengths, interests, and career goals.

• Diverse skill development: In addition to cultivating rigorous scientific thinking and creativity, we emphasize teamwork, communication skills, and presentation abilities.

Students in the group typically receive training in the following areas:

• Fundamental optics (and related physics and mathematics), simulation, and experimental techniques

• Design, construction, and integration of imaging systems

• Hardware–software co-development and system optimization

• Image and data processing, reconstruction, and computational algorithms

• Relevant biological and medical knowledge related to the research topics

Prospective Students

We welcome students who:

• Are interested in interdisciplinary training across science, engineering, and medicine. Relevant backgrounds include (but are not limited to):
  physics, optical engineering, optoelectronic engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, precision instrumentation, computer science, and neuroscience.

• Are motivated to develop new methods and tools based on physical principles to advance life science research and clinical applications.

• Are passionate about innovation and the development of next-generation scientific and medical instruments.

If you are interested in the research directions above and would like to grow in a supportive, collaborative, and intellectually curious research environment, please feel free to contact me.