Forrest Lin

My research primarily falls under cardiac electrophysiology, which essentially is a branch of cardiology that looks at the electrical activity of the heart, and how we as scientists can detect, classify, and treat abnormalities like rhythm and timing in the heartbeat. This sophomore year will be my second year working under Dr. Timothy Markman and Dr. Brian Salzberg. 

With the support of University Scholars this past summer, I first optimized our lab’s indocyanine green (ICG) imaging device, which under near-infrared light excites ICG dye (causing it to fluoresce) and detects changes in voltage. I then observed fluorescence in ICG solutions of various hydrophobicities, a characteristic of the cell membrane. And after staining myocyte cell cultures with ICG and stimulating them to generate an action potential, I observed changes in fluorescence during contraction. Nowadays, I am working on expanding my experiments to larger in vivo samples, like a pig’s heart, with the ultimate goal of one day being able to detect cardiac arrhythmias in the human heart. 

Outside of research, I’m involved in clinical volunteering at local dementia care units with the Brain Exercise Initiative as well as tutoring chemistry at the Weingarten Tutoring Center.

• Research Assistant to Dr. Timothy Markman, Department of Cardiology
• University Scholars