MAKAROV NIKOLAY SERGEEVICH

Current position:

Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology

Education:

2004-2010: Ph.D. in Physics, Montana State University
2004-2006: MS in Physics, Montana State University
1997-2003: MS in Mathematics, Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (SPbSU ITMO)

Ph.D. Dissertation: "Ultrafast two-photon absorption in organic molecules: quantitative spectroscopy and applications", Advised by Prof. Aleksander K. Rebane
The thesis is devoted to fundamental understanding and experimental measurements of two-photon absorption (2PA) in organic molecules as well as to the applications of 2PA in 3D optical memory, optical power limiting, photodynamic therapy and fluorescent microscopy.

Research interests:

Quantitative nonlinear spectroscopy

Applications of two-photon absorption in biology, microscopy and 3D memory

Quasi-phase matched stimulated Raman Scattering

Research and work experience:

Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010 - present
   Development of two-photon measurement system, 2010-2011.
      -Design of the hardware and software for high accuracy low noise reliable double channel relative fluorescence-based measurements of two-photon absorption
   Study of the structure-property relations of various organic molecules, 2010-Present.
      -Investigation of the influence of the coupling, symmetry and planarity on the photophysical properties of triarylamine-diarylboryl single- and multi-arm compounds
      -Assay of the efficiency of the plasmon-absorption enhanced molecules for 2PA-based optical power limiting

Graduate Research Assistant, Physics Department, Montana State University, 2004 - 2010
   Study of two-photon 3D optical memory, 2004-2006.
      -Computer simulations of the Signal-to-Noise and Signal-to-Background ratios in 3D optical memory devices
      -Experimental demonstration of efficient materials satisfying the requirements for high speed high density memory
   Characterization of the molecules for efficient optical power limiting, 2004-2010.
      -Experimental demonstration of the validity of perturbation theory for description of two-photon cross sections
      -Development of a set of reference standards for precise two-photon absorption spectral measurements
   Characterization of new fluorescent proteins (FP) for two-photon microscopy, 2007-2010.
      -Development of new all-optical approach for characterization of linear absorption properties of FPs
      -Measurements of two-photon absorption spectra and cross sections of various FP mutants
   Development of a high precision near-infrared femtosecond pump-probe setup, 2008-2010.
      -Design and realization of the computer-controlled experimental setup and controlling software
      -Experimental demonstration of the validity of a few-essential-level model for description of two-photon cross sections
   Development and application of a near-infrared imaging system for sensitive cancer detection, 2008-2010.
      -Design of an imaging system which uses near-IR two-photon excited fluorescence
      -Demonstration of non-targeted cancer imaging and diagnostics
      -Analysis of biochemical mechanisms of dye sensitivity to cancer cells

Junior Researcher, Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, 1999-2004
Study of a quasi-phase matched stimulated Raman scattering, 1999-2004.
-Development of several consequent versions of software for computer simulations of quasi-phase matching conditions for stimulated Raman scattering in various layered nonlinear media

Skills:

   Programming (C, C++, Pascal, Mathematica, LabView)
   Operating and maintaining femtosecond laser systems (Ti:Sa oscillator, amplifier, OPA)
   Optical design of (microscopic) imaging system
   Nonlinear optical methods (2PA with registration of fluorescence, femtosecond pump-probe)
   Fluorescence lifetime measurements with ps-ns resolution using Streak-camera
   Linear spectroscopy methods

Extra links:

Resume
My publications
My grants and awards
Hobbies/interests