Mentor Areas
The Morgan laboratory in the Department of Ophthalmology studies the structure and function of the human visual system using adaptive optics, a technology which permits visualization of individual light-sensing cells—rod and cone photoreceptors—in the living retina.
Description:
Projects vary. Some possible projects are outlined below. Dr. Morgan usually takes multiple undergraduate students each summer, many of whom have chosen to stay in the lab during the academic year.
The Morgan laboratory in the Department of Ophthalmology studies the structure and function of the human visual system using adaptive optics, a technology which permits visualization of individual light-sensing cells—rod and cone photoreceptors—in the living retina. With the ability to noninvasively observe the photoreceptor cells comes the ability to quantify parameters of the cell mosaic in the diseased retina in comparison to the normal retina. Students will work with data collected from normal and diseased retinas to measure and compare cone densities at several retinal eccentricities and quantify abnormalities in cone density in patients with known retinal pathology. During this project, the student will have the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art ophthalmic research, interact with normal control and diseased study participants, learn image processing techniques and retinal anatomy, and participate in all aspects of data collection, analysis and interpretation. Motivated individuals with an interest in clinical research, pre-med, bioengineering, biology or neuroscience are encouraged to apply. Students must be highly organized, as this project will involve maintaining a database for retinal images and associated data. Prior experience with Photoshop and/or Matlab is preferred but not required.
Using the same imaging technology as described above, we can probe the limits of vision by presenting small light stimuli confined to single or small groups of cones and investigate visual system function both in normal sighted individuals and in patients with retinal disease. Two overarching goals of this ongoing project are (1) to link cellular-scale structure and function in patients with inherited retinal degeneration, and (2) to better understand how the retina and brain convey information about the world by studying the percepts elicited by stimulating individual neurons in the retina. Student will have the opportunity to participate in data collection and analysis and will be responsible for investigating how eye/pupil movement affects the delivery of the visual stimulus to the retina. During this project, the student will participate in state-of-the-art ophthalmic research, interact with research subjects, and learn optics and retinal anatomy. Motivated individuals with an interest in bioengineering, clinical research, psychology, biology or neuroscience are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with using Matlab is preferred but not required.
With the ability to noninvasively observe the photoreceptor cells comes the ability to quantify parameters of the cell mosaic in the diseased retina in comparison to the normal retina. One ongoing research project involves developing software analysis tools that are aimed at investigating metrics to characterize the living human eye at the cellular level. Student will have the opportunity to participate in data collection, software/analysis development, and application of analysis techniques to imaging data, comparing normal with diseased patient populations. During this project, the student will participate in state-of-the-art ophthalmic research, interact with research subjects, and learn image processing techniques and retinal anatomy. Motivated individuals with an interest in bioengineering, image processing, or computer programing are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with using Matlab, C/C++/C#, or Java is preferred but not required.
Preferred Qualifications
Motivated individuals with an interest in bioengineering, clinical research, psychology, biology or neuroscience are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with using Matlab is preferred but not required.
Project Website
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p8207419
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.