Sculpting the Dark: Schmidt Science Fellow Shifts from Physics to Biology with Innovative Medical Imaging Devices

In 2024, Soon Wei Daniel Lim, a Harvard Ph.D. graduate, was chosen as one of the 32 Schmidt Science Fellows. Lim’s thesis in applied physics under the guidance of Professor Federico Capasso at Harvard focused on “Sculpting the dark: Singularity engineering with metasurfaces.” As a Schmidt Science Fellow, he will shift from physics to biological sciences and relocate to Stanford University.

Lim’s research will involve developing innovative ultrasound and photoacoustic medical imaging devices that utilize acoustic frequency combs, a new type of miniaturized acoustic sources. His goal is to explore their usage in differentiating between different tissue types and pathologies, which could pave the way for more accurate diagnoses of various diseases. This project could be especially beneficial in remote or economically disadvantaged areas where access to diagnostic tools is limited.

The Schmidt Science Fellows program was established in 2018 to support researchers in expanding their work across various fields of study and fostering a community of interdisciplinary thinkers committed to addressing global challenges. It is an initiative of the Schmidt Sciences organization, founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, which aims to promote exploration, discovery, and the development of solutions to worldwide issues. Since its inception, the program has endorsed 177 fellows from seven different cohorts who were nominated by 62 institutes worldwide. The program collaborates with the Rhodes Trust to deliver its objectives and support the fellows in their research pursuits.