Stay Up-To-Date on our Latest Publications, News and Call for Projects.

When it comes to generating 3D digital geometric models of historical buildings, the automation of methods is still limited. Existing research focused on sacral structures, on 3D model generation of the exterior envelope of buildings and on segmentation of interior spaces. The goal of this project is (i) to develop a data acquisition and post-processing… Continue reading 3D imaging of historical buildings

A key tool for studying the dynamics of living systems is the light microscope. Microscopes allow real-time recording of spontaneous or evoked spatio-temporal dynamics, data that can be used to develop models for how complex systems function. Today, cutting-edge microscopes can image below the diffraction limit of light (super-resolution microscopy), or over days, gently enough… Continue reading Spatiotemporal adaptive microscope control, driven by biological events

Many questions in biology, from development to neuroscience and medicine require the identification of finegrained behaviors. We will develop novel computer vision and natural language processing technology to improve behavioral analysis in biology and medicine. Specifically, we will build deep learning models that can efficiently learn joint representations from video and heterogeneous data sources (e.g.,… Continue reading Video-based action segmentation by learning world models from language

Next-generation radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will observe the sky with unprecedented resolution, sensitivity, and survey speed. However, this precise instrument will demand reliable, precise, and high dynamic range deconvolution techniques to form images. The popular CLEAN algorithm, while efficient, often produces images of suboptimal quality. In recent years convex and… Continue reading Learned Scalable high Dynamic Range imaging in radio astronomy

Scanning probe methods – and in particular, the combination of scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) – have emerged as unique tools for studying materials and mechanisms in complex, multistep chemical reactions such as CO2 reduction. However, they are notoriously slow in image acquisition, making them ill-suited for studying the dynamics of energy conversion processes. In this project, these two EPFL labs will develop advanced hardware and software components for a unique, fast SICM-SECM imaging method that can be easily deployed within the EPFL community, and beyond. Their method has great potential for the design of energy devices, as well as emerging cross-disciplinary applications such as the nanoelectrochemistry of single-cell signaling.

3D image reconstruction or depth estimation is at the core of applications in navigation as well as Earth system science. Significant advances have been made in the field of computer vision to obtain 3D information from various types of cameras. Yet, these techniques still face limitations for a number of applications. In this project, the… Continue reading A more effective 3D-imaging system for Earth System Science and Navigation

Each human cell contains around two meters of DNA tightly packaged in its nucleus. An exquisite organization is critical to ensure that the DNA can be accessed by the many important genetic processes. This organization is achieved by wrapping the DNA around millions of tiny protein spindles, forming a complex called chromatin. Chromatin governs many key cellular functions and, when malfunctions in its organization can lead to serious diseases.

In this project, scientists from two EPFL labs will combine their know-how to develop a new high-speed microscopy system that can reveal single-molecule dynamics with unprecedented detail, including in liquids. The system will also allow scientists to assess how individual molecules behave, interact and self-organize at the solid-liquid interface. More specifically, they will enhance the… Continue reading High-speed multimodal super-resolution microscopy

When it comes to characterizing mechanics at the cellular scale, the accuracy and precision of current methods are still limited. In this project, Prof. Kolinski and Prof. Persat will connect imaging to mechanical measurements by developing a set of hardware and software tools that can measure microscale 3D force fields and surface stresses.

Spatial transcriptomics – a nascent field arising from the combination of cutting-edge microscopy with gene-specific in-situ labeling – can be used to generate large gene expression profiles of messenger RNA. This gives scientists an indication of the relative expression rates of different genes in the same environment. EPFL scientists at these two labs are are… Continue reading Towards more accurate large-scale gene expression profiles