Fall 2007 Student Travel Grant

Christine Carlson

Christine A. Carlson, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Chemistry, was awarded a Student Travel Grant to attend the Fall ACS National Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. She is currently working on the fabrication of near-field optical probes, and the use of these probes along with near-field optical microscopy (NSOM) to allow for the direct manipulation of molecules inserted within fluidic model membranes. Ms. Carlson will present some of her research findings in a symposium "Development of Novel Optical Tips for Near-field Imaging and Manipulation of Single Molecules." Her paper is entitled, "Fabrication and Use of Optical Probes Based on Photonic Crystal Fibers in Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy".

Christine describes the importance and application of her work as follows: "The use of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) for near field imaging and eventual molecular manipulation has several advantages. These optical tips will inherit the intrinsic advantages of PCFs which include: single-mode character is wavelength independent, they are more thermally stable than traditional fibers, and they do not produce any background autofluorescence. The advantages of the fabrication method of these tips include: sharp supertips that are confined to the core region alone and increased mechanical stability due to shortened taper length compared to traditional optical fiber tips. Since the probe is the most critical part of the near-field microscope for achieving high resolution images, this research is essential to further enhance the field of single molecule imaging."

Christine A. Carlson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin where she attended Menomonee Falls High School and graduate with honors in 1989. While working full time, she attended Milwaukee Area Technical college from 1994-1996 and graduated with honors receiving an Associates Degree in Arts and Sciences in Environmental and Pollution Technology. After applying her education in the work world for three years she decided to enter Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2003, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Biology and then continued on at Mount Mary College for an additional year in order to complete a second major in chemistry. In the fall of 2004, she entered the Ph.D. program in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and joined Prof. Jorg C. Woehl's group.