Key Skills
- R&D Engineering
- Design, Build & Test
- Optics (Zemax)
- Mechanics (Solidworks)
- Programming (Python)
- Microscope design
CV
A summary of my career. Here's a portable and printer friendly version: amsikking_cv.pdf
Alfred Millett-Sikking
Research & Development Engineer
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
https://amsikking.github.io/
amsikking@gmail.com
About
I’m a hybrid physicist and engineer who is fascinated by the notion of optimal designs. I’ve spent my career assembling experience in applied physics, optics, mechanics, electronics, programming and microscopy. I seek to improve technologies, and invent new ones, with element and system level innovations.
Experience
Calico Life Sciences LLC- 2021 - 2024: Senior Engineer
- I invented a novel technique to image 3D samples of any refractive index at high resolution using an immersion objective of any type[Millett-Sikking 2023]. This new 'any immersion remote refocus' (AIRR) microscopy method is particularly powerful when using a high numerical aperture air objective to image into 3D biological samples[Millett-Sikking 2022]. I then applied the AIRR technology to design and build a state of the art, large field of view, single-objective light-sheet (SOLS) microscope at Calico, including real-time multi-angle projections[Chang 2021]. I also built a fast and flexible widefield microscope and continued to collaborate with SOLS builders (Snoutclub) on many projects[Sommernes 2024, Bodén 2024].
- 2020 - 2021: Scientist II
- The main drive of this period was to produce a user level SOLS microscope for Calico. In practice this meant developing device adaptors, instrument control and data processing software, and well as build and alignment procedures to get good PSF data. This naturally led to training users and early biological applications [Okreglak 2023].
- 2018 - 2020: Scientist
- Initially I developed a series of custom ASI microscopes for 'The Yeast Lifespan' project at Calico[Thayer 2022]. This was followed by a major breakthrough when I designed a new kind of objective lens, the 'AMS-AGY' objective (a.k.a 'Snouty'), that revolutionized light-sheet microscopy [Millett-Sikking 2019, Riolka 2019, Millett-Sikking 2020]. The new "single-objective light-sheet" (SOLS) architecture is inherently fast, gentle, 3D and compatible with standard samples, making it a versatile and valuable technology [Sapoznik 2020, Millett-Sikking 2020]. This platform was then extended to larger fields of view[ Yang 2022, Chen 2022].
- 2015 - 2018: Senior Research Associate
- As a founding member of the York lab, I developed the original microscopy core and technology labs at Calico. In particular I designed and built a novel fast focusing module for a Leica microscope using Nikon remote refocus (RR) optics [Millett-Sikking 2018].
- 2013 - 2015: Research & Development Engineer
- Lead engineer in the development of multipoint laser scanning confocal microscopes (VT-Infinity). Including the full opto-mechanical design of a new super-resolution imaging system [York 2013] that was taken from concept stage to final product (VT-iSIM).
- 2011 - 2012: Postgraduate Research Associate
- The first year of a PhD with the Quantum Light and Matter (QLM) group. I built and tested various intricate optical systems and completed the postgraduate courses.
School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Bristol University
- 2008 - 2009: Postgraduate Researcher
- Research into small scale renewable energy technology in the Electrical Energy Management Group (EEMG), including the design and build of electronic devices.
- 2007 - 2008: Project Controls Engineer
- Worked in the procurement department of Saudi Aramco’s Khursaniyah Gas Plant. Handled the purchase and cancellation of more than 5million USD of materials.
Education
Durham University- 2002 - 2006: MSci Physics
- 1st Class Honours and D. A. Wright Prize for best research project[Millett-Sikking 2006]. (Physics, Maths, Theoretical Physics, Experimental Physics, Mathematical Methods, Condensed Matter Physics, Astronomy, Electronics, Atomic & Optical Physics)
York College
- 2000 - 2002: A levels
- Physics (A, best project), Maths (A), Biology (B), Spanish (B), Computing AS (B).
- 1998 - 2000: GCSEs
- Science Double, Maths, Electronics, Information Technology, English, English Literature, Geography, History, French, Spanish.
Other
Keen climber, hiker, camper, cyclist and general outdoor enthusiast. Fluent in Spanish.