Laura Waller, Ph.D., is an investigator in the foundation's Data-Driven Discovery initiative and leads the Computational Imaging Lab at UC Berkeley.
Laura uses computation to manage big sets of data generated from cutting-edge microscopes that produce images with high resolution. By capturing images from many different angles, she can produce high-magnification images from low-resolution microscopes.
In this installment of Beyond the Lab, Laura discusses how science is a team sport, and how the accomplishments of her students and postdocs are her “real measure of success.”
What topics/areas/problems in science are you most interested in solving?
My group builds microscopes that add new capabilities to traditional imaging systems by using simple hardware in conjunction with sophisticated software. Computational imaging is the idea that the optical design and image reconstruction algorithms should be developed simultaneously, with the computer sometimes replacing lenses or optical components. Our microscopes enable new capabilities; for example, 3-D and phase imaging, or super-resolution imaging with very large scale (gigapixel-scale images).
Recent advances in computing power and machine learning algorithms are informing how to build these setups and allowing us to push the limits of what’s possible, breaking the rules. We are engineers that build tools for biology, physics and other areas of science. That means that we work closely with collaborators to answer a wide array of exciting problems in science, from neuroscience to quantum physics.
How do your colleagues, mentors, students/postdocs, others help you achieve your goals?
Well, the students and postdocs in my group do all the real work! So they don’t just help, they are essential. And the environment certainly influences my work. Several of the biggest projects in the lab have come out of students or postdocs talking to other students. For example, our work in large-scale image acquisition started from social discussions with big data folks at Berkeley, and our work imaging brain activity of mice started from two friends figuring out that their expertise could help one another.
Mentors, of course, have a big influence on my career. I wouldn’t be in academia if not for the support of my Ph.D. and postdoc mentors, and my wonderful colleagues at Berkeley are always around for career advice and inspiration. No one can achieve anything alone in science, and it’s fun to work with others, learn from them and leverage everyone’s knowledge and expertise!
What gets you going every day (besides coffee) and how do you stay motivated?
I feel very lucky to work with such amazing people who are working so hard in pursuit of truth. I want to appreciate all the opportunities I’ve been given by making the most of it. Mentoring and interacting with students and postdocs makes me proud of their accomplishments; they are my real measure of success. And the field of computational imaging and microscopy is extremely exciting right now. It’s fairly new and full of fresh ideas, rapid advancement and exciting new capabilities. I learn and grow intellectually every day, building useful things that serve science and society. What could be more motivating than that?
What are your greatest limitations/challenges as a scientist/researcher?
I never have enough time! Why are there only 24 hours in a day? And why do I get so many emails? It’s very difficult to not have time to do everything you would like to do: to read all the papers you’d like to read and to learn all the things you want to know. Choosing how to manage the limited time I have is a constant battle between spending time on the research that I love versus trying to get done all the other things I’m responsible for. I'm learning new ways to multitask, for instance by taking journal papers on vacation with me to get a little reading in while sightseeing (pictured above).
Learn more about Laura's work here and follow her on Twitter.
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