Co-Advisor Name: Emily Corbin, Email: emily.corbin.1@us.af.mil, Office: 210-539-7304

Co-Advisor Name: Charles Schwarten, Email: charles.schwarten@us.af.mil, Office: 210-539-7310

Title:  Investigation of In Vivo Directed Energy Bioeffects using Immunohistochemistry

Description: The mission of the AFRL’s Bioeffects Division (711 HPW/RHD) is to understand the interaction of directed energy with biological systems to improve human health and safety. To better understand the potential biological hazards of exposure to directed energy our lab will use advanced immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques to investigate potential changes in biological systems caused by the absorption of RF or laser energy and correlate these changes with dosimetry. The use of IHC for tissue-based diagnostics and biomarker detection to investigate bioeffects have been underutilized in literature. We aim to incorporate this valuable tool in our studies to improve our understanding of the risk of injury and the underlying mechanisms of injury at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ system, and organismal levels that may be caused by exposure to directed energy.

We are seeking an experimental scientist with knowledge and expertise in performing histological processing and staining, and modern IHC methods and assays, such as multi-color IHC stains. To perform IHC, the scientist must know the appropriate tissue collection procedures, histological processing methods, and staining / labeling techniques necessary to measure the target of interest. The scientist will know how to use brightfield and fluorescence microscopy and an automated quantitative pathology slide scanner to take high quality images or multiplex assays for biomarker detection. The scientist should have in-depth knowledge about the cell and tissue structures and organ/organism anatomy and physiology being analyzed, understand the biochemical processes of IHC staining processes, and know how to analyze, process, and interpret the assays and report the results. The results of IHC may be compared with that of traditional histological methods, in vivo images, or other data to provide us with a wider understanding and interpretation of the results.

Our facility has a dedicated histopathology group and two labs used solely for histopathological tissue processing and microscopy; the selected applicant will have access to the group’s expertise, labs, and equipment. We are a collaborative team consisting of personnel from multiple military research units, industry, and academia. Our teammates have expertise in a wide range of research areas, including bioelectromagnetics, physics, computational modeling, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, biology, physiology, neuroscience, preclinical imaging, and veterinary sciences. We seek a talented experimental scientist with experience in histopathology, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, image acquisition, processing, and interpretation, and statistics. Knowledge in software programming or utilization for advanced image processing and/or analyses (e.g., using MATLAB, Python, ImageJ, or ParaView) is strongly desired, but not necessary.

Keywords: directed energy, fluorescence, histology, image processing and analysis, immunohistochemistry, injury, microscopy, radio frequency, staining, tissue collection and processing

Eligibility:  Open to U.S. Citizens

Level: Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited [P.A. Case No. AFRL-2024-4518, 16 AUG 2024]. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official guidance or position of the United States Government, the Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the United States Space Force.

key words

directed energy, fluorescence, histology, image processing and analysis, immunohistochemistry, injury, microscopy, radio frequency, staining, tissue collection and processing

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants