Department:
Bioengineering

Faculty Advisers:
Brian Cunningham, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Lawrence Schook, Animal Science

Project Title:
Exploring Cell:Cell and Cell:ECM Interactions with Photonic Crystal Biosensors

Erich Lidstone is a graduate student in the Bioengineering Department, and is working with Prof. Brian Cunningham and the Nano Sensors Group. His current research is dedicated to the application of photonic crystal (PC) biosensors for high-resolution label-free imaging of cell attachment, growth, and differentiation. Recently developed by Cunningham et al., PC biosensors are uniquely suited to provide continuous information about cellular activity in the absence of potentially cytotoxic fluorophores and colorimetric labels. As a member of the UIUC Medical Scholars Program, Erich plans to complete his M.D. at the University of Illinois and to pursue a research career in diagnostic medicine. While not engaged by extracellular matrices and photonic crystals, Erich enjoys cycling, kayaking, and a variety of mountain sports he picked up while growing up in New Hampshire.

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