Mitchell Harling, PhD

Optics and photonics | Postdoctoral Research Associate

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

About

Postdoctoral research associate trained in optics and biomedical engineering. Over 8 years of hands-on experience in optical physics research. For recent publications, please see my Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&tzom=240&user=JSc0u_oAAAAJ

Experience

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Cologne
    Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

  • Brown University School of Engineering ()
    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
      Sep 2024 - May 2025 · 9 mos

    • PHD Candidate
      Jul 2022 - Aug 2024 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    • PHD Student
      Sep 2020 - Aug 2024 · 4 yrs

      Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program.

  • Course Instructor at Brown University Pre-College Programs
    Jul 2021 - Jul 2023 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Taught Introduction to Engineering: a 2-week course for pre-college students in the summer of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

  • Technical Design Intern at Lobshot Golf
    Jun 2020 - Aug 2020 · 3 mos

    • Worked with founder on IP research, material selection, and product prototype design to develop a novel biodegradable golf ball. • Created an animated video to convey biodegradable golf ball concept using Unity Engine and C#.

  • University of Maine (3 yrs 8 mos)
    • Research Assistant
      Dec 2018 - Aug 2020 · 1 yr 9 mos

      Working in the CompuMAINE Laboratory. · Focused on colocalization and image characterization techniques through ImageJ and Python Scripting. · Adapted astrophysical image analyses to a biomedical regime in ImageJ to explore collagen and nerve fiber colocalization for a study of neuropathy. · Member of a machine learning subgroup that studied machine learning theory using Python and MATLAB. Gained basic machine learning knowledge from lectures and assigned readings; the goal is to implement a neural network in the lab to improve image analyses. · Used an inhouse Tcl/Tk-based software to take anisotropy measurements of nerve and collagen fibers. This required trouble-shooting and altering source codes to get the proper measurements.

    • Research Assistant
      Mar 2017 - Aug 2020 · 3 yrs 6 mos

      Working in the Tilbury Photonics Laboratory. · Shared the responsibility of the design, construction, and alignment of a home-built two-photon system. · Performed intensive imaging of nerve and collagen in mouse adipose tissue, using two-photon fluorescence and second harmonic generation microscopy, respectively. · Explored fibroblast growth and proliferation on a potential bone substitute, cellulose nanofiber, through two-photon microscopy and scripting 3D cell counting in FIJI. · Performed optical metabolic imaging of macrophages to study their metabolic activity in different disease states. · Maintenance of BSL-2 cell culture lines and aided in the establishment of culture protocol. · Named as a University of Maine Center for Undergraduate Research Scholar.

    • Teaching Assistant
      Jan 2019 - May 2019 · 5 mos

      Assisted 1st year biomedical engineering students in Introduction to Bioengineering II with classwork related to Mathcad, R, and LabVIEW. Graded classwork and homework.