Mechanobiological Spectroscopy and Photonics Laboratory
Principal Investigator: Shui-Jing Tang
We are developing novel photonic probes, based on micro-nanoscale high-quality-factor cavities and lasers, for mechanobiological sensing, spectroscopy, and imaging
Research
Optical sensing, spectroscopy, and imaging with microscale optical sensors
- Microscale photonic sensors (high-quality optical microcavities, microlasers)
- Bio-integrable and implantable microscale photonic devices
We focus on novel photonic technologies through microscale optical structures, such as ultrahigh-Q microcavities and nanolasers, to achieve breakthroughs in sensing sensitivity, imaging resolution, and spectroscopic precision. It also pioneers biocompatible and implantable photonic devices (e.g., intracellular force sensors) for minimally invasive biomedical applications.
Photoacoustic spectroscopy, Optomechanics and Biomechanics
- Photoacoustic spectroscopy and optomechanics
- Fundamental studies on full-spectrum viscoelastic biomechanics
We leverage photoacoustic spectroscopy and optomechanics to facilitate the coupling of multiple physical fields, including light, sound, and force. It investigates the viscoelastic properties of biological materials, thereby enabling comprehensive biomechanical spectroscopy across cellular and subcellular scales.
Mechanobiological Spectroscopy, Microscopy & Regulation
- Biomechanical and Mechanobiological Microscopy
- Multimodal regulation (force, sound, light) of cell activities and living systems
Centered on imaging and manipulating biomechanical dynamics in living systems, we are developing multimodal techniques (e.g., biomechanical microscopy) for high-resolution mapping of tissue viscoelasticity. It further explores multimodal regulation strategies to probe and control mechanobiological processes (e.g., cell mechanotransduction), bridging innovations in imaging technology, mechanobiology, and precision therapeutics.
Team
We are looking for new Postdocs, graduate students and technicians to join the team (see openings) !
Shui-Jing Tang
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Peking University Boya Young Fellow
National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC), College of Future Technology, Peking University
Email: sjtang@pku.edu.cn
Room: Room 304, Buiding 2, NBICBiography
Dr. Shui-Jing Tang is an assistant professor at the National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC) of Peking University. She obtained her PhD and completed her postdoctoral training at Peking University. Her research focuses on mechanobiological spectroscopy and microscopy. Her group aims to develop micro-nanoscale optical probes, including optical-microcavity-based ultrasound sensors and intracellular microlasers, for multimodal biomedical imaging, with representative publications in journals such as Nature Photonics, PNAS, PRL, and Nature Communications. Her accomplishments have been recognized and awarded by the "Year in Optics" (Optica, 2023) and the "Top Ten Breakthroughs in Optics in China" (2022, 2023). She has been selected for the Future Female Scientist Program (2025).
Education
2015-2020 Ph.D. School of Physics, Peking University
2018-2019 JointPh.D. Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
2011-2015 B.S., School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology
Experience
2024- Assistant Professor, College of Future Technology, Peking University
2022-2024 Research Associate Professor, School of Physics, Peking University
2020-2022 Postdoc, School of Physics, Peking University
Group members
Graduate students
Mo-Xuan Li
PhD student, Peking University (2025- )
Undergraduate, Beijing Normal University (2021-2025)
Hong-Hai Li
PhD student, Peking University (2025- )
Undergraduate student, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2021-2025)
Ying-Da Huang
PhD student (Joint), Peking University (2022- )
B.Eng, Northeastern University (2018-2022)
E-mail: huang_yingda@stu.pku.edu.cn
Undergraduate students
Hao-Tian Xing
Undergraduate, Peking University (2022- )
Wen-Kai Gao
Undergraduate, Peking University (2023- )
Yi-Fan Cai
Undergraduate, Peking University (2023- )
Research assistants/technician
Jun Cai
Research assistant, Peking University (2025-)
Master, Imperial College London (2023-2024)
B.Eng, The University of Manchester (2020-2023)
Shao-Xun Wang
Technician
wsx@pku.edu.cn
Publications
Selected publications
- Shui-Jing Tang, Mingjie Zhang, Jialve Sun, Jia-Wei Meng, Xiao Xiong, Qihuang Gong, Dayong Jin, Qi-Fan Yang, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Single-particle photoacoustic vibrational spectroscopy using optical microresonators”, Nature Photonics 17, 951-956 (2023). PDF. Front cover story. Highlighted in News & Views of Nature Photonics.
- Jia-Wei Meng, Shui-Jing Tang*(corresponding author), Jialve Sun, Ke Shen, Changhui Li, Qihuang Gong, and Yun-Feng Xiao*，“Dissipative Acousto-optic Interactions in Optical Microcavities”, Physical Review Letter 129, 073901 (2022). PDF
- Xiao-Chong Yu#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Wenjing Liu, Yinglun Xu, Qihuang Gong, You-Ling Chen*, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Single-molecule optofluidic microsensor with interface whispering gallery modes”, PNAS 119, e2108678119 (2022). PDF. Highlighed in Science Bulletin
- Ming Jin#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Jin-Hui Chen, Xiao-Chong Yu, Haowen Shu, Yuansheng Tao, Antony K. Chen, Qihuang Gong, Xingjun Wang*, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “1/f-noise-free optical sensing with an integrated heterodyne interferometer”, Nature Communications 12, 1973 (2021). PDF
- Shui-Jing Tang#, Paul H. Dannenberg#, Andreas C. Liapis#, Nicola Martino, Yue Zhuo, Yun-Feng Xiao*, and Seok-Hyun Yun*, “Laser particles with omnidirectional emission for cell tracking”, Light: Science & Applications 10, 23 (2021). PDF. Front cover story. Highlighted in News & Views of Light: Science & Applications, Highlighted in Phys. org
- Shui-Jing Tang#, Shuai Liu#, Xiao-Chong Yu, Qinghai Song*, Qihuang Gong and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “On-chip spiral waveguides for ultrasensitive and rapid detection of nanoscale objects”, Advanced Materials 30, 1800262 (2018). PDF
- Shui-Jing Tang#, Zhihe Liu#, Yanjun Qian, Kebin Shi, Yujie Sun, Changfeng Wu, Qihuang Gong, Yun-Feng Xiao*, “A tunable optofluidic microlaser in a photostable conjugated polymer”, Advanced Materials 30, 1804556 (2018). PDF
2023
- Shui-Jing Tang, Mingjie Zhang, Jialve Sun, Jia-Wei Meng, Xiao Xiong, Qihuang Gong, Dayong Jin, Qi-Fan Yang, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Single-particle photoacoustic vibrational spectroscopy using optical microresonators”, Nature Photonics 17, 951-956 (2023).
- Chaoyang Gong#, Xi Yang#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Qian-Qian Zhang#, Yanqiong Wang, Yi-Ling Liu, Yu-Cheng Chen, Gang-Ding Peng, Xudong Fan, Yun-Feng Xiao*, Yun-Jiang Rao* and Yuan Gong*, "Submonolayer biolasers for ultrasensitive biomarker detection," Light Sci. Appl. 12, 292 (2023).
- Xi Yang, Shui-Jing Tang, Jia-Wei Meng, Pei-Ji Zhang, You-Ling Chen*, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, "Phase-Transition Microcavity Laser," Nano Letter 23, 3048-3053 (2023).
- Jialve Sun, Shui-Jing Tang, Jia-Wei Meng, Changhui Li. “Whispering-gallery optical microprobe for photoacoustic imaging”, Photonics Research 11(11), A65-A71 (2023).
2022
- Jia-Wei Meng, Shui-Jing Tang*(corresponding author), Jialve Sun, Ke Shen, Changhui Li, Qihuang Gong, and Yun-Feng Xiao*，“Dissipative Acousto-optic Interactions in Optical Microcavities”, Physical Review Letter 129, 073901 (2022).
- Xiao-Chong Yu#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Wenjing Liu, Yinglun Xu, Qihuang Gong, You-Ling Chen*, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Single-molecule optofluidic microsensor with interface whispering gallery modes”, PNAS 119, e2108678119 (2022).
- Jialve Sun, Jia-Wei Meng, Shui-Jing Tang*(corresponding author) and Changhui Li*, “An encapsulated optical microsphere sensor for ultrasound detection and photoacoustic imaging”, SCIENCE CHINA Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy 65, 224211 (2022).
- Jia-Wei Meng, Pei-ji Zhang, Shui-Jing Tang*(corresponding author), Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Ultrasound detection using a thermal-assisted microcavity Raman laser”, AAPPS Bulletin 32, 38 (2022).
- Wenjing Liu, Shui-Jing Tang, Yun-Feng Xiao*. “Nonlinear Optical Microcavities Towards Single-Molecule Sensing”. Single Molecule Sensing Beyond Fluorescence, Nanostructure Science and Technology. Springer, Cham. 97-123(2022). (Book Chapter)
2021
- Ming Jin#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Jin-Hui Chen, Xiao-Chong Yu, Haowen Shu, Yuansheng Tao, Antony K. Chen, Qihuang Gong, Xingjun Wang*, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “1/f-noise-free optical sensing with an integrated heterodyne interferometer”, Nature Communications 12, 1973 (2021).
- Shui-Jing Tang#, Paul H. Dannenberg#, Andreas C. Liapis#, Nicola Martino, Yue Zhuo, Yun-Feng Xiao*, and Seok-Hyun Yun*, “Laser particles with omnidirectional emission for cell tracking”, Light: Science & Applications 10, 23 (2021).
- Wenjing Liu#*, You-Ling Chen#, Shui-Jing Tang, Frank Vollmer, Yun-Feng Xiao*. “Nonlinear sensing with whispering-gallery mode microcavities: from label-free detection to spectral fingerprinting”, Nano Letters 21, 1566-1575 (2021). (Front cover paper)
Prior to 2020
- Qi-Tao Cao, Shui-Jing Tang, Hao-Jing Chen, Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Research advances of ultrahigh-Q on-chip microcavity photonics”, Chinese Science Bulletin 65(27), 3028(2020).
- Shui-Jing Tang, Bei-Bei Li and Yun-Feng Xiao*, "Optical sensing with whispering-gallery microcavities", Physics (China) 48(3), 137-147 (2019).
- Siyao Zhang#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Shengfei Feng,* Yun-Feng Xiao,* Wanyin Cui, Xinke Wang, Wenfeng Sun, Jiasheng Ye, Peng Han, Xinping Zhang, Yan Zhang, “High-Q polymer microcavities integrated on multicore fiber facet for vapor sensing”, Advanced Optical Materials 7, 1900602 (2019).
- Chunhua An, Zhihao Xu, Wanfu Shen, Rongjie Zhang, Zhaoyang Sun, Zhaoyang Sun, Zhaoyang Sun, Shuijing Tang, Yun-Feng Xiao, Daihua Zhang, Dong Sun, Xiaodong Hu, Chunguang Hu, Lei Yang*, and Jing Liu*, “The Opposite Anisotropic Piezoresistive Effect of ReS2”, ACS Nano 13, 3310 (2019).
- Jin-hui Chen#, Xiaoqin Shen#, Shui-Jing Tang, Qi-Tao Cao, Qihuang Gong, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, "Microcavity nonlinear optics with an organically functionalized surface", Physical Review Letter 123, 173902 (2019). (Front cover paper, Editors' suggestion)
- Shui-Jing Tang#, Shuai Liu#, Xiao-Chong Yu, Qinghai Song*, Qihuang Gong and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “On-chip spiral waveguides for ultrasensitive and rapid detection of nanoscale objects”, Advanced Materials 30, 1800262 (2018).
- Shui-Jing Tang#, Zhihe Liu#, Yanjun Qian, Kebin Shi, Yujie Sun, Changfeng Wu, Qihuang Gong, Yun-Feng Xiao*, “A tunable optofluidic microlaser in a photostable conjugated polymer”, Advanced Materials 30, 1804556 (2018).
- Yinglun Xu#, Shui-Jing Tang#, Xiao-Chong Yu, Daquan Yang, Qi-Huang Gong, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Microcavity-enhanced scattering of an arbitrary-shaped nanoparticle: theory and application”, Physical Review A 97(6), 063828 (2018).
- Xiao-Chong Yu, Yanyan Zhi, Shui-Jing Tang, Bei-Bei Li, Qihuang Gong, Cheng-Wei Qiu and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Optically sizing single atmospheric particulates with a 10-nm resolution using a strong evanescent field”, Light: Science & Applications 7, 18003 (2018).
- Shui-Jing Tang, Fei Gao, Da Xu, Yan Li, Qihuang Gong, and Yun-Feng Xiao*, “Rayleigh scattering in an emitter-nanofiber-coupling system”, Physical Review A 95, 043801 (2017).
- Shuijing Tang, Bo Zhang, Zhi Li, Jixiang Dai, Gaopeng Wang, and Minghong Yang*, “Self-compensated microstructure fiber optic sensor to detect high hydrogen concentration”, Optics Express 23, 22836 (2015).
Contact
Dr. Shui-Jing Tang
National Biomedical Imaging Center
College of Future Technology, Peking University
Huairou Distinct, Beijing 101407, China
E-mail: sjtang@pku.edu.cn
National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC) was established in September 2020, which is an important strategic measure of Peking University for the construction of national major science and technology infrastructure and the construction of "double first-class". Relying on big science facilities, it promotes the construction of frontier interdisciplinary disciplines of "imaging omics", promotes the change of scientific research paradigm in the field of life science, and cultivates future innovative talents in "big science" of life science and compound innovative talents in "new engineering" and "new medical science".
