Work will include developing next-generation microscope systems at UNM to advance deep tissue imaging

UNM Assistant Professor and OSE faculty member, Dr. Tonmoy Chakraborty has received a coveted NSF CAREER Award for his work on a powerful imaging technique to study living tissue.

Chakraborty, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said he’s grateful and excited.
“This award represents a major milestone for me, both professionally and personally, and it affirms the potential impact of the ideas my team and I have been working toward. I’m especially thankful for the support of my colleagues, mentors, and students at UNM who have contributed to the development of this research direction,” he said.

Tonmoy Chakraborty aligns components in a custom-built microscope.

The CAREER Awards are “the most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization,” according to the NSF.

Chakraborty said the award is not just a research grant — it’s also an investment in integrated education and outreach.
“This $1.25 million funding over the next five years will support hands-on training in imaging and data science for undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds,” he said.

Close-up of optical elements used in remote focusing microscopy.

Work on the project focuses on advancing a powerful imaging technique called pupil-matched remote focusing (pmRF), which enables high-speed, high-resolution 3D imaging of biological systems without physically moving the sample, Chakraborty said.

“This is a transformative capability for studying living tissues in more physiologically relevant ways. Over the next five years, my lab will develop three next-generation microscope systems that address major challenges in deep-tissue imaging, label-free molecular detection, and intelligent, data-driven scanning. These systems will allow researchers to visualize dynamic biological processes in large, intact samples with unprecedented clarity and speed.”

The work could have wide-reaching implications for biomedical research, Chakraborty said, including neuroscience, developmental biology and environmental science. It will allow scientists to observe cellular behavior in native tissue environments with minimal disruption.

Imaging facility equipped for large-volume tissue microscopy.

Beyond that, the research also could influence medical diagnostics, potentially replacing or complementing traditional histopathology, which is the study of diseased tissues. It could also aid significant advances in drug development, and the design of intelligent microscopy and imaging platforms, he said.

The award will also include other activities at UNM with students.
“Through summer courses, lab-based instruction, and our annual UNM Physics Day, the project aims to build a pipeline for future scientists and engineers. I also plan to make all microscope designs open source, fostering collaboration and accessibility in the broader scientific community,” Chakraborty said.

He urged faculty interested in collaborative opportunities related to imaging, deep learning, or science outreach to reach out to him by visiting chakra.unm.edu.

High-resolution images demonstrate the lab’s capabilities in large tissue imaging. From top to bottom, they show the beating heart of a live zebrafish, reconstructed neurons in a cleared mouse brain, and glomeruli in a cleared mouse kidney.

UNM OSE Added OSE references to the original story.

Original Story Posted at UNM Advance: UNM physics professor lands prestigious NSF grant to develop high quality imaging of living tissue – Advance at UNM