My lab group takes a new group photo each year to track the changing group members. We are getting three new Ph. D. students in the fall but there won’t be any time to get that photo until next year so my advisor, Andrea Armani, asked me to help take the photo as well as a few shots inside our lab. The Armani Lab works with biodetection through optical sensors,

Biophotonics describes the intersection of light and biology. This field is very broad, covering research from chip-based microscopy to optical biosensors. In the lab of Prof. Andrea Armani at the University of Southern California, we focus on the development and integration of optical devices for studying biological and chemical systems. This includes using previously studied and characterized optical devices, such as waveguides, as well as developing novel optical structures. We also design new surface functionalizations and investigate material behavior. Therefore, the Armani lab spans many fields, including optics, chemistry, and biology.

Ashley looks at a waveguide under the microscope to determine if her sample has reflowed properly.

Xiaomen and Ashley test on the waveguide testing setup.

Nashita and Audrey place samples onto a vacuum pump for reflowing at the CO2 laser.

Simin pulls a taper as Bradley watches.

Matt places a device on the device holder of the resonant setup.

Mark uses the desktop SEM to save isometric pictures of his device.