Thomas Huser

Thomas Huser is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Bielefeld's Faculty of Physics, with an adjunct professorship in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis. His research group develops advanced optical microscopy techniques for biological applications, focusing on ultra-sensitive imaging of cellular and molecular systems.

• Physics MA, University of Basel (1992)
• Physics MS, University of Basel (1994)
• Physics Ph.D., University of Basel (1998)
• Postdoc in Materials Science, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (1998-2000)

Huser's research spans multiple cutting-edge areas in biophotonics, including super-resolution optical microscopy, coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS), and nanosensor development. His work bridges physics, biology, and medicine, with applications in HIV research, liver cell imaging, and cancer studies. The group develops novel imaging techniques to study cellular structures at the nanoscale, including virological synapses, tunneling nanotubes, and endothelial fenestrations.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating advanced computational methods with optical microscopy, including deep learning for image reconstruction, novel optical designs using fiber components, and hyperspectral imaging techniques. The research spans fundamental physics of light-matter interactions to direct medical applications in liver disease, HIV transmission, and nanoparticle toxicity.

• Summa cum laude doctorate from University of Basel
• Norbert J. Kreidl Award from American Ceramic Society
• Excellence in Publication Award from LLNL
• Above and Beyond Teaching Award from Center for Biophotonics
• Guest Editor for Journal of Biophotonics
• Editorial roles at Applied Spectroscopy, Scientific Reports, and BME Frontiers

Huser leads multiple major research projects funded by the European Union and German Research Foundation, including imaging aging endothelium at the nanoscale, microphysiological sample imaging for polypharmacy evaluation, and sino-German mobility programs for high-speed microscopy. His lab, the Biomolecular Photonics Group, develops innovative imaging technologies while maintaining strong clinical connections through collaborations with medical researchers.

The Biomolecular Photonics Group operates state-of-the-art microscopy facilities including super-resolution systems, CARS microscopy, and custom-built imaging platforms. The group maintains international collaborations across Europe and the United States, with particular strengths in translating fundamental optical physics into biomedical applications.