Xavier continued to PhD studies in a lab that explores and advances the field of super-resolution microscopy

Hi Xavier, what are you working with at the moment?

I am doing a PhD at KTH and I am located at the Science for Life Laboratory, which is a joint venture between Karolinska Institutet, KTH, Stockholm University and Uppsala University.

What made you choose further studies after your master’s?

During my master’s studies, I realized that I wanted to work in a multidisciplinary environment where people from different backgrounds could share their expertise and I would be exposed to a different field, but where I could also contribute with my Electrical Engineering training. I joined the Advanced Optical Bio-Imaging Lab, located in the Science for Life Laboratory, during my master’s thesis and I really enjoyed the research field and discussions with colleagues. This is why I decided that I wanted to further pursue a PhD so I could learn more about light microscopy and how I could potentially contribute to the field. I really like to collaborate with physicists, biologists, and other engineers, it’s so much fun and one can learn so much from of it!

Could you elaborate more about the Science for Life Lab and your field of research?

The Science for Life Lab is a collaboration between different universities in Sweden with the goal of conducting research within the areas of health and the environment. In our lab, we develop new microscopy techniques to solve biological questions and push forward the technological development in the field of super-resolution microscopy.

What can a regular day look like at your job?

I normally start the day reading some papers to either keep myself updated about new publications or to study more about the field. Then I usually spend most of the time in the lab building on an optical microscope, aligning and imaging cells with it. Subsequently I analyse the data or work with other projects in the office.

Why did you choose this programme at KTH?

I wanted to expand my knowledge in Electrical Engineering and to master the fundamental concepts of signal processing, machine learning, communication systems and digital communications.

Are there any insights or knowledge you acquired during your studies that have been particularly useful for you in your career?

Even though I changed field for my PhD quite a bit, I still use techniques that I learned during my master’s on a daily basis. In particular, image processing, filtering and restoration, and machine learning have been very useful to me. I love how you can understand Optics by looking at the Fourier space, and now I get to see the applications of image processing and deep learning in cell biology!

What were the best aspects of your studies at KTH?

I really liked the fact that you have a lot of time to study and read by yourself, I actually read almost all the big books and tried to really understand the fundamental concepts behind the courses.

What is your best memory from your time at the university?

The projects were something I really enjoyed because it was similar to doing research, where you have to search for information on your own and collaborate with your colleagues in order to solve a problem.

What are your plans for the future?

I am not sure yet, for now I am focused on my PhD and trying to get results and ideas!

What would you say to a student thinking of applying for this programme?

I think it’s quite a theoretical master’s, there are some labs and exercises, but it is more focused on understanding the maths behind information and network engineering. I think it is important to really try to understand the maths so that it is then easier for you to apply it to the projects and you understand what is going on!