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Aaron M. Goldfain (Fed)
Aaron Goldfain is physicist in the Surface and Interface Metrology Group in Gaithersburg, MD. He is interested in the interactions of light with particles and surfaces and in developing quantitative, label-free imaging methods.
He is currently co-leading a project to develop new light-scattering-based microscopy techniques to characterize gene delivery nanoparticles. This project aims to speed the development of new gene therapy treatments and improve their efficacy and safety by providing novel, multiattribute physical measurements (e.g. mass, size, concentration, composition) of gene delivery nanoparticles at the single particle level.
He is also building a database of the bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF) of materials in the UV/VIS/NIR range. The present focus of this database is the reflectance properties of materials relevant to UV disinfection applications. He is also developing methods for acquiring accurate algae reflectance spectra in the field.
He started at NIST as an NRC Postdoc in the Molecular and Bio-Photonics Group in Boulder, CO. There, he investigated photoacoustic imaging methods and optical methods for ultrasound detection. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Harvard University where he used interferometric optical microscopy to study the assembly and disassembly of viruses.
Programs/Projects
- Light Scattering Microscopy of Gene Delivery Particles
- Optical Properties of Materials
- Gene Delivery Systems
- Diffusely Scattering Optical Materials
Research Opportunities
We are actively seeking postdoctoral candidates for the light scattering microscopy of gene delivery particles project. More details can be found on the project webpage. Post-doctoral and graduate research candidates interested in any of the above projects are encouraged to contact Aaron Goldfain by email aaron.goldfain [at] nist.gov (aaron[dot]goldfain[at]nist[dot]gov) to discuss project opportunities and fellowships.
NRC postdoctoral fellowship opportunities are listed here. More information on the NRC program can be found here.
Summer research opportunities for undergraduates may also be found on the SURF program website.
Selected Publications
- R. Förster, S. Weidlich, M. Nissen, T. Wieduwilt, J. Kobelke, A. Goldfain, T. Chiang, R. Garmann, V. Manoharan, Y. Lahini, M. Schmidt. “Tracking and Analyzing the Brownian Motion of Nano-objects Inside Hollow Core Fibers.” ACS Sensors. 5 3 (2020).
- R. Garmann, A. Goldfain, V. Manoharan. “Measurements of the self-assembly kinetics of individual viral capsids around their RNA genome.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 116 45 (2019).
- A. Goldfain, R. Garmann, Y. Jin, Y. Lahini, V. Manoharan. “Dynamic measurements of the position, orientation, and DNA content of individual unlabeled bacteriophages.” J. Phys. Chem. B. 120 26 (2016).