Ocean Optics Names Winner of 2012 Young Investigator Award

02-06-2012: Ocean Optics has named Nathan J. Withers the winner of the SPIE 2012 Young Investigator Award sponsored by the company.

The Young Investigator Award is presented to a researcher who is no more than five years out of school and submits the best juried paper as part of the Colloidal Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications VII conference. The honor includes a $1,000 investigator gift and a company grant to the investigator’s advisor.

As part of a research team at the University of New Mexico that included Yekaterina Brandt, Antonio C. Rivera, Nathaniel C. Cook, Leisha M. Armijo and Marek Osinski, Withers was the lead author of the paper “Effects of LaF3:Ce nanoparticles capped with polyethylene glycol on human astrocytoma in vitro.” The team investigated the cytotoxicity of Cerium-doped lanthanum fluoride colloidal nanocrystals used to improve absorption in radiation therapy.

“This award, along with our Blue Ocean Grants and Challenges program, aims to recognize the role of fundamental research in shaping the photonics world,” said Rob Morris, Director of Marketing at Ocean Optics. “This year’s SPIE participants affirm the promise that young investigators represent for scientific discovery, innovation and industry growth.”