Our Focus |
We investigate phenomena in the length scale of tens to thousands of angstroms, with a goal of gaining insight into the fundamental equation of the transition from molecular to macroscopic. At these length scales, the number of surface and bulk molecules is comparable, and interesting changes in such systems, such as growth and loss, occur via interaction with another phase through an interface. Hence, the study of interfaces is central to understanding such phenomena. Thus, our studies have two main components: small structures and interfaces.
We use atomic force microscopy for the elucidation of complex structures at the nanometer scale. Two projects underway concern the mechanism of assembly of collagen fibres, and of paired helical filaments (PHF), which are an obligate feature of Alzheimer's disease. Our work on PHF in the past year has called into question the accepted structure of these filaments. With regard to direct studies of interfaces, we utilize the surface sensitivity of second-order nonlinear effects (second harmonic and sum frequency generation), which are symmetry forbidden in isotropic bulk media. We are concerned with the relationship between structure and dynamics at the liquid/air, liquid/liquid, and liquid/solid interfaces. Current projects include studies of water near charged interfaces, cooperative and competitive absorption at model membranes, using AI and high-throughput methods to elucidate mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation at the surface, and exploring bacterial-surface interaction heterogeneity as well as diffraction-based detectors in the development of novel, highly-sensitive bio-sensors. |
Our Group
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Research Scientists
Dr. Richard Loo Dr. Cheng Lu Dr. Stanley Wong Dr. Nick Kotoulas Dr. Mark Croxall Dr. Reece Lawrence Graduate Students
Yi Zhu - PhD Student Jiaqi Gong - PhD Student Charlie Chen - Masters Student Tomoyuki Sen - PhD Student Yanqian Lin - Masters Student Undergraduate Students Serena Ban |
Recent Former Members
Bonnie Li Mirna Ghattas Hamed Hadayeghi Andy Wang Tia Chai Charlotte Wallace Farah Farinha Prof. Chunyang Zhai Kevin Yu Lawrence Wang Dr. Vitali Borisenko Olga Kvak Prof. Kathy Wang Dr. Calvin Cheng Dr. Nari Kim Dr. Mohamed Hamam, MD Dr. Shermaine Li, MD Jennifer Tran Prof. Concepcion Ponce Dr. Liqun Qiu Prof. Mingshan Zhu Hannah Howard |
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Entrepreneurship
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Throughout the Goh lab history, entrepreneurship has been encouraged as a catalyst for innovation that leads to real impact. As part of their research, students and senior scientists alike have been challenged to generate solutions to modern problems at both the local and global scale. Since the lab's inception, several companies have been built through the collaboration of Prof. Cynthia Goh and her students, some of which are highlighted here. We aim to continue this tradition for years to come as we build for future impact.
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Global Lighting Initiative
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LIGHT UP THE WORLD
In celebration of UNESCO’s declaration of 2015 as the International Year of Light, the Impact Centre set out on a challenge to light up the world. This challenge was sparked by Professor Cynthia Goh who grew up in a remote part of the Philippines without electricity. Many such communities in developing countries do not have access to the electric grid. This means that after sundown, the light goes out. To tackle this ‘light poverty’, Prof. Goh mobilized her team at the Impact Centre, and the rest of U of T to design and create a practical, cost-effective lighting system for low-resource settings to help ensure access to a reliable overhead light source. |
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A LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR REMOTE COMMUNITIES
Since early 2015, we have been developing a solar-powered LED light bulb for installation in rural Filipino villages in 2016. The system is easy to use, charges autonomously during the day, and is affordable for the poorest communities. The batteries that power the LED bulbs are charged by a standard solar panel. The system is designed to provide good-quality light for four hours, and can be dimmed to last even longer. The fixture is permanent and requires minimal upkeep. This robust solution will enable families in rural Filipino villages to come one step closer to the same standard of living as any community that has lighting on demand. |
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THE UNVEILING
In November 2015, we unveiled a solar-powered overhead LED lamp that was designed to provide reliable illumination to rural areas of the Philippines. |
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PROTOTYPE INSTALLATION
In December 2015 we moved into the field and completed the installation of the first three alpha prototypes in villages in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. Ensuring the technology meets the needs of the end-users has been challenging, but the team has learned a lot from this initial installation. Changes to the software to allow the light to be turned on during the day as well as the need for coatings to prevent condensation on the solar panels caused by the high levels of humidity are only some of the lessons learned that will be incorporated into the next generation of the lamp. The feedback has helped improve our second-generation device. Stay tuned for our more updates! |
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THE IMPACT
Darkness is a reality for the 1.2 billion people without electricity. The light goes out at sundown. Thus, for 12 hours, affected families cannot engage in chores, children’s education, or business activities, resulting in billions of productive hours lost daily. Lighting systems such as the one we’ve built bring tremendous social, environmental, and economic benefits. They can extend productive hours of a household, allowing families to conduct household chores, study, and continue activities beyond sundown. Much of the developed world takes electricity for granted and expects light by flicking a switch. But for many, lighting and electricity are a luxury. A high-quality light that does not put parents and children at risk of lung cancers, burns, and vision loss (e.g. kerosene-based lamps), should not be a luxury. It is a right. |
