Kevin Keomanee-Dizon

I am a Robert H. Dicke Fellow in Experimental Physics, and a Fellow of the Center for the Physics of Biological Function, at Princeton University.

I grew up in California. I received a B.S. in 2012 from Loyola Marymount University and then an M.S. in 2015 from the University of Southern California, where I continued for a Ph.D. (2021), advised by Scott E. Fraser and Thai V. Truong at the Translational Imaging Center, and funded by the Alfred E. Mann Institute.

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I am interested in building new optical tools for science. Lately, I have been developing high-resolution, high-sensitivity microscope technologies to explore the organization and dynamics of small (10 nm - 10 µm), complex living systems. Representative papers are highlighted.

We present a light-sheet approach that maximizes photon collection, and document that this improves the signal-to-noise ratio and volumetric coverage. Our method uses a pupil phase mask to extend the detection depth of field to match the thickness of the illumination light sheet, thereby collecting as useful signal the fluorescence photons that would otherwise be lost or appear as SNR-destroying background.

A Fourier transform-based method for snapshot hyperspectral imaging enables photon-efficient and fast fluorescence multiplexing, even in low signal-to-noise conditions.

We adapt selective-volume illumination microscopy (SVIM) to a single-objective geometry, using an oblique one-photon illumination path or two-photon excitation to enable high-contrast light-field imaging.

This technology is liscensed to ZEISS.

We present the design and construction of an instrument with two independently controlled light-sheet microscope-twins sharing the same multi-laser source, dramatically cutting the cost of the system. We image a variety of specimens, demonstrating instrument versatility and application-specific customization.

This technology is serving researchers at the USC Translational Imaging Center, and has also been adopted by research groups throughout the U.S.

We introduce SVIM, combining the high-contrast associated with light-sheet microscopy and the high-synchronous volumetric acquisition rates of light-field microscopy (limited only by the detector and available signal).

This technology is liscensed to ZEISS.

We discuss progress in methods to measure circulating tumor cells, the hematogenous phase of cancer, and we highlight some initial applications, as well as its performance in early-stage diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

We chracterize tumor cells in the fluid phase of blood and bone metastases, revealing new insights into their biophysical properties and clinical potential.

We use split-fluoresent proteins and their activation by complementary synthetic peptides to localize indivdual molecules and track their diffusion with a precision of 30 nm, directly in live animals.

Good artists copy.