Contact Info

Nicholas N. Kuzma, Ph.D. Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Rochester work Box 270168 Rochester, NY office: MCA 2A-225 p +1-585-275-5695 f +1-585-276-2127

Recent Publications

    • Wei Q
    • Seward GK
    • Hill PA
    • Patton B
    • Dimitrov IE
    • Kuzma NN
    • Dmochowski IJ
    (2006 Oct 04). Designing 129Xe NMR biosensors for matrix metalloproteinase detection. J Am Chem Soc. 128, 13274-83.
    • Jau YY
    • Miron E
    • Post AB
    • Kuzma NN
    • Happer W
    (2004 Nov 04). Push-pull optical pumping of pure superposition states. Phys Rev Lett. 93, 160802.
    • Jau YY
    • Post AB
    • Kuzma NN
    • Braun AM
    • Romalis MV
    • Happer W
    (2004 Apr 19). Intense, narrow atomic-clock resonances. Phys Rev Lett. 92, 110801.
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Nicholas Kuzma

Photo of Nicholas Kuzma

  • Associate Professor

    • Biomedical Engineering

Research Overview

Our laboratory explores recent advances in atomic and condensed-matter physics to create novel biomarkers and procedures for in-vivo molecular imaging. New ways of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) are being developed to produce non-invasive diagnostics for diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Our research focuses on the practical applications of two nuclear spin-alignment (hyperpolarization) methods: spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). These methods can be used to increase magnetic resonance signal strength of selected atoms and molecules by factors of 100,000 or more, in samples large enough to serve as diagnostic tools in medicine and biology.