Dr. Betty Kouskousis   Research Fellow

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Science in Optoelectronics, Victoria University, 2003.
• Bachelor of Science in Physics (First Class Honours), Victoria University, 2004.
• Doctor of Philosophy, Dissertation title: “Microscopic Characterization of Fibre Bragg Gratings”, Victoria University, (under review)

Current Research Projects

In the last few years the development of photoactivatable fluorescent proteins have enabled advances in microscopy and fluorescent labelling creating unique opportunities for the visualization of intercellular organisation and activity both in vivo and vitro. These photoactivatable fluorescent proteins exhibit distinct spectral characteristics with respect to irradiation with light of a specific wavelength and intensity. These new class of proteins can exhibit conversions from a low to a bright fluorescent state, termed. photoactivation, or change in fluorescent colour, termed photoswitching or photoconversion.

It is well known that cells expressing fluorescent proteins contain information on the spatial organization of target proteins to which they are bound that is accurate at the molecular level. However due to the limit of diffraction imposed by conventional optical techniques, image scales are two orders of magnitude greater than the level desired. Several methods in response to braking this diffraction limit have been developed and explored, which include near field scanning optical microscopy, stimulated emission depletion, structured, and reversible saturable optical fluorescence transmission microscopy.

More recently methods developed to break the diffraction limit, i.e. superresolution have been demonstrated which rely on the statistical estimation of coordinates of individual molecules within a densely labelled specimen using photoactivatable fluorescent.

This project aims to develop high spatial resolution imaging techniques based on photoactivatable fluorescent proteins and localisation algorithms, as a means to further investigate the mechanisms and consequences of cell polarity, beyond the diffraction limit of conventional imaging techniques.

Areas of Expertise and Research

Research in image processing applied to light microscopy. Extensive experience in developing physics-based imaging models and image processing methods for real imaging applications. Implementing and testing of developed imaging models via software engineering. Evaluation of optical instruments with developed imaging models for two-dimensional microscopy, (Specifically for Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy).

Membership of Professional Organisations

• Member, Optical Society of America
• Member, Australian Optical Society
• Member, ARC/NHMRC Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences Network.

Current Progress

• Development of image processing software to identify and localise single fluorescent particles with a high precision, and render a superresolved image based on single particle statistics.
• Awarded FABLS Support Scheme for emerging research projects.
• Lab exchange to Betzig Lab, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Farm Research Campus for building a photoactivatable localisation microscope at CMP.