Jake Bewick
Jake Bewick

Optical Engineer

About Me

I’m Jake Bewick, a doctoral researcher specialising in electromagnetic modelling and laser propagation. I’ve been investigating how light travels through complex materials like biological tissue, and how we can manipulate it to improve deep-tissue imaging. I’m experienced in designing bespoke simulations of light–matter interaction, developing algorithms for data analysis, and conducting benchtop laser experiments.

My passion is applying mathematical modelling to solve engineering problems. Whether it’s designing implants for bone repair, modelling the brain’s connectivity, or using machine learning to enhance fetal ultrasound imaging, I enjoy solving challenging problems with real-world impact.

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Interests
  • Computational Optics
  • Numerical Modelling
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Engineering Design
  • Machine Learning
Education

  • PhD - Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering

    University College London

  • MRes - Medical Imaging

    University College London

  • MSci - Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

    University College London

  • BEng - Biomedical Engineering

    Queen Mary University of London

Education

  1. PhD - Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering

    University College London
    A rigorous computational framework for investigating the transmission and focusing of light in biological tissue via photo-acoustic wavefront shaping.
    Supervised by Dr James Guggenheim.
    Read Thesis

  2. MRes - Medical Imaging

    University College London
    First Class Honours
    Unscrambling light scattering to enable deep tissue optical imaging a computational investigation.
    Supervised by Dr James Guggenheim.
    Read Thesis

  3. MSci - Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

    University College London
    First Class Honours, Dean’s List, Graduated Top of the Class
    Analytical and numerical modelling of osmotically induced deformation in a spherical cell.
    Supervised by Professor Yiannis Ventikos.
    Read Thesis

  4. BEng - Biomedical Engineering

    Queen Mary University of London
    First Class Honours
    Mathematical and numerical modelling of buckling in a spherical cell due to an osmotic shock.
    Supervised by Dr Lorenzo Botto.
    Read Thesis
Featured Publications
Simulating optical memory effects and the scanning of foci using wavefront shaping in tissue-like scattering media

Simulating optical memory effects and the scanning of foci using wavefront shaping in tissue-like scattering media

Wavefront shaping could enable focussing light deep inside scattering media, increasing the depth and resolution of imaging techniques like optical microscopy and optical coherence tomography. However, factors like rapid decorrelation times due to microscale motion and thermal variation make focusing in living tissue difficult. A way to ease the requirements could be exploiting prior information provided by memory effects. For example, this might allow partially or wholly scanning a focus. To study this and related ideas, a computational model was developed to simulate the generation and correlations of foci formed by WFS in scattering media. Predictions of the angular memory range were consistent with experimental observations. Furthermore, correlations observed between optical phase maps required to focus at different positions suggested correlation-based priors might enable accelerated focussing. This work could pave the way to faster optical focussing and thus deeper imaging in living tissue.

Full-wave simulation of focusing light through scattering layers using the T-matrix method
A computational framework for investigating the feasibility of focusing light in biological tissue via photoacoustic wavefront shaping

A computational framework for investigating the feasibility of focusing light in biological tissue via photoacoustic wavefront shaping

Photoacoustic (PA) wavefront shaping (WFS; PAWS) could allow focusing light deep in living tissue, increasing the penetration depth of biomedical optics techniques. PAWS experiments have demonstrated focusing light through rigid scattering media. However, focusing deep in tissue is significantly more challenging. To examine the scale of this challenge, a computational model of the propagation of coherent light in tissue was developed to simulate the focusing of light via PAWS. To demonstrate the model, it was used to simulate focusing in an 800 µm thick tissue-like medium. To show the utility of the model, the focusing was repeated in different conditions illustrative of simplified PAWS experiments involving different spatial resolutions. As expected, a finer spatial resolution led to a brighter focus. By providing a simulation platform for studying PAWS, this work could pave the way to developing systems that can focus light in tissue.

Efficient full-wave simulation of wavefront shaping to focus light through biological tissue
Featured Projects
Awards
Photonics West Conference Support
SPIE and MKS Instruments ∙ November 2022
Biomaterials Medal
Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers ∙ November 2019
Dean’s List
UCL Mechanical Engineering ∙ November 2019
i4health CDT
UK Research and Innovation ∙ September 2019
Best 3rd Year Project
Queen Mary University of London ∙ November 2018