iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

A Short Horror Story of every scientist

Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

💡Our paper "Dispersion-engineered Floquet-Bloch phonon polaritons for extreme infrared beam control" is accepted! Polaritonic materials are thought to be unusable for light control, but we show that periodic structuring makes these materials actually quite useful. Read here: lnkd.in/d8-GT4QY

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

This design seems to be different than the poseidon syringe pump, could you please share the files or point where to look for this pump?

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Following my recent announcement of Frontiers for the Future Award, I'm pleased to share the opening of #PhD position. Deadline: 25 January 2026 Full details and application information are available on euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/393670 #PhD #Photonics #LaserPhysics 💡

euraxess.ec.europa.eu

PhD Studentship in Integrated Lasers for Optical Coherence Tomography, CAPPA Centre

Overview of the CAPPA Centre:

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Following my recent announcement of Frontiers for the Future Award, I'm pleased to share opening of #Postdoc position Deadline: 5 January 2026 Full details & application information are available on lnkd.in/ejGnG7MU #PostdocPosition #Photonics #LaserPhysics #OCT #INSPIRATION #JobOpportunity

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

If you're interested in laser physics, photonic integrated circuits, or medical imaging technology, recruitment announcements will be posted here soon. Watch this space. #Photonics #OCT #PhDPosition #PostdocPosition #ResearchIreland

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

This 4-year project will support one PhD student & one postdoctoral researcher position at the Centre for Advanced Photonics & Process Analysis (CAPPA), Munster Technological University, in collaboration with Tyndall National Institute. #Photonics #OCT #PhDPosition #PostdocPosition #ResearchIreland

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

The INSPIRATION project will develop the world's first akinetic dispersive tuned laser operating in the visible spectrum that could make advanced OCT imaging more accessible for both clinical and industrial applications. #Photonics #OCT #PhDPosition #PostdocPosition #ResearchIreland

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

I am pleased to announce that I have been awarded a Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future grant to develop a novel swept-source laser for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). #Photonics #OCT #PhDPosition #PostdocPosition #ResearchIreland💡

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drmkn.bsky.social @drmkn.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Call for data for survey of CCD spectrometers. Do you have a CCD spectrometer? If you do, would you please collect two fluorescent lamp spectra and send me the data in ascii format. One with the 546nm just a little bit below saturation and another at about 1/4 of that intensity. Thank you.

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Reposted by Chinna Devarapu

drmkn.bsky.social @drmkn.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

TCD1304 or S11639-01 Why you might choose the TCD1304 over the S11639-01 in most instances. 1) TCD1304DG $18 on Digikey, vs $200 to $450, and not found even on octapart. 2) Response spectrum, S11639-01 left, TCD1304DG right - self explanatory.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

You mean hopocolor spectrometers are not viable or the tcd1304+transmission grating spectrometers are not viable?

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Thanks for sharing these. I am quite aware of your work, following from your interactions with curious scientist on Pcbway project. So it’s glad to meet you here.

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SPIE @spie.org · 11/10/2025

Teams from Johns Hopkins University & @bostonu.bsky.social demonstrate a retina imaging technique that digitally refocuses scans after capture. It removes the need for precise alignment, delivering sharper images & faster diagnosis. 👁️ #BiophotonicsDiscovery #Optics Read more: bit.ly/4mZ34Kq

Diagram illustrating the process of capturing and reconstructing images using a diffuser fundus camera, starting from a schematic of the human eye through to a sensor capturing a raw image.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

The best of 3D-printers is here, by hacking them into lab equipment

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Reposted by Chinna Devarapu

Alfred Millett-Sikking @amsikking.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

The culmination of many years work. One of the most advanced light-sheet microscopes in the world! -> A large field of view Snouty light-sheet microscope, with any immersion remote refocus and real-time multi-angle projections! For details see previous posts and here: github.com/amsikking/HT...

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

It makes me wonder what other scientific instruments are quietly undergoing similar transformations in unexpected places. Thanks to Leonhard for sharing the teardown images of hopocolor. and screenshots that sparked this observation.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

These instruments are becoming viable tools for field measurements, where the cost-benefit equation of traditional spectrometers doesn't work. I think there is still room for improving these spectrometers in terms of cost & performance by using transmission grating with linear CCDs such as TCD1304.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

These aren't just hardware upgrades. The manufacturers have developed desktop applications, mobile apps that run standalone or inside WeChat, and optional LCD displays. They're building complete measurement platforms, not just optical instruments.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Not only they use Czerny-Turner optical layouts - the same configuration found in laboratory spectrometers costing at least $2,000, they get you impressive specs: 350-800nm range, integration times from 50 microseconds to 10 seconds, and 2nm spectral resolution.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Compared to both Garden and Torch bearer spectrometers, what I'm seeing in hopocolor is entirely different: professional-grade spectrometers for just $250-$300, made by Hopocolor.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Then came torch bearer spectrometers, priced around $150-$200. Same general approach, but refined - better mechanics, improved optical alignment, more stable performance. Still using transmission gratings but executed with more care.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Previously, I covered garden spectrometers - the only spectrometers you could buy for under $100. These are simple enough: transmission gratings paired with camera sensors with Bayer filters removed. They worked but were basic. bsky.app/profile/chin...

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

I've been tracking low-cost spectrometers on AliExpress, but when I come across these ~$300 spectrophotometers, that closely resembles Ocean Optics' Czerny-Turner optical layout, I am very impressed.

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Leonhard Bandilla @lbandilla.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

There are so many budget friendly portable spectrometers available, I thought I'd post some photos of when I opened one, an hopocolor HPSC330, to replace the battery and recalibrate it afterwards. It seems to use a crosses Czerny-Turner geometry with a linear CCD

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

3/3 The complete design files, firmware, and mobile application are available as open source under GPL 3.0 license at lnkd.in/eSq-asPH Here is the ink to the ODX paper: doi.org/10.1021/acs.... The corresponding tweet that went viral is here: x.com/VarunKothama...

doi.org

ODX: A Fitness Tracker-Based Device for Continuous Bacterial Growth Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of bacterial growth in aqueous media is a crucial process in academic research as well as in the biotechnology industry. Bacterial growth is usually monitored by measuring the op...

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

2/3 ColorX extends this concept by repurposing fitness trackers as portable instruments capable of detecting five critical water quality parameters: nitrite, sulfate, chromium, free chlorine, and turbidity, with detection limits meeting EPA/CDC guidelines.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

1/3 We just turned a $25 fitness tracker into a water quality monitoring device (Colorx). The results are now published. doi.org/10.3390/s251... This is a follow-up of our ODX paper where we hacked a #fitnesstracker for bacterial growth monitoring. #WaterQuality #Sensors #odx

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Jeff Geerling @jeffgeerling.com · 12/09/2025

PIS IN SPACE! Today's video on CubeSats was over a year in the making—and deals with two of my favorite things: Raspberry Pis, and space! Also making a special guest appearance is Gabe from saveitforparts, using SDR to track sats: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvN3...

youtube.com

PIS IN SPACE!

YouTube video by Jeff Geerling

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Mae Dean @maegodhavemercy.com · 05/09/2025

HELL YES. Proof of concept for PWM (Pulse Wave Modulation) dimming of an inductive LED using a MOSFET as the gate! This isn’t the final pulse cycle - I’ll tweak that tomorrow, but it’s getting the full brightness and doing the dimming seamlessly! Woohoo!

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Of course the #pocketspectrometer can be used without the web interafce with its own UI enabled by its own screen and two buttons on the #M5stickC. Here is the link to the github repo github.com/devpnryn/Poc...

github.com

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Here is the video tutorial on how to use the #pocketspectrometer’s web interface. We had a french intern student (Gabriel Kirady) who kindly recorded this video while using the spectrometer. #OpenSource #Spectrometer #STEM #DIY #CitizenScience #Instrumentation #OpenHardware

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Rachel Grange @rachelgrange.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Back for a little while here, I tried this ‘starter pack’ for photonics & optics people: anyone else can follow up to 50 people at the click of a button: go.bsky.app/QrtPj7R. Put your name below and I will add you to the pack.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

8/8 Still testing the reliability and accuracy, but initial results are promising. Code and design files will be updated once testing is complete. Follow this space for updates.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

7/8 Now getting consistent spectral data across the 12 channels. The broader wavelength coverage should enable more diverse applications in colorimetry.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

6/8 The hardware was the easy part. Software integration took over 2 days of debugging to get reliable spectral readings. Pimoroni's driver worked initially but the output was inconsistent. Lots of back-and-forth troubleshooting through @Claude to get it working properly.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

5/8 I have tried other options for AS7343 boards. @pimoroni.com has one but it's not compatible with my 3D enclosure design, and they couldn’t sell in small numbers through purchase orders. @sparkfun.bsky.social released one in June 2025 but again, the layout didn't match my 3D enclosures.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

4/8 The custom PCB solved several issues from my previous builds. Soldering an external LED is now straightforward which is one of the constraints of using the off-the-shelf breakout board from Adafruit. bsky.app/profile/chin...

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

3/8 I got my boards manufactured through @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social. Getting all parts correct was not easy, required some coordination with @pcbyway for the BOM but eventually got working boards.

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

2/8 Waited almost a year for @adafruit to release an AS7343 breakout after they hinted at it in August 2024, but nothing came. Decided to design my own PCB based on Adafruits's as7341 as as7343 is also has same pinout blog.adafruit.com/2024/08/25/a...

blog.adafruit.com

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

1/8 🧵 Update on the Pocket #Spectrometer project. Been working on upgrading from the AS7341 to AS7343 sensor. The #AS7341 worked well but only had 9 channels. The #AS7343 offers 12 channels which should be better for #colorimetric analysis. #OpenSource 💡

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Mikhail Kats @mickeykats.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Our paper, "A gradient atmospheric model reveals enhanced radiative cooling potential and demonstrates the advantages of broadband emitters", is now online in Laser & Photonics Reviews. The work was led by Yeonghoon Jin onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 🧪💡

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

A Gradient Atmospheric Model Reveals Enhanced Radiative Cooling Potential and Demonstrates the Advantages of Broadband Emitters

We introduced a model for sky-facing radiative cooling that accounts for altitude-dependent temperature and gas composition at specific times and locations on Earth. Our results suggest that radiativ....

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

📢 #Postdoc opportunity! Join our team through Sustain-FIT Marie Curie fellowships for cutting-edge gas sensing technology 💡. 3-year funded position with industry secondment. We are happy to support your application through MTU! DM with project idea + CV. lnkd.in/e2GtiY3m

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Chinna Devarapu @chinnadevarapu.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

We’re hiring 4 Marie Skłodowska-Curie #PhD fellows in the PROTEMIC network — combining integrated photonics, mid-IR lasers, and protein spectroscopy for real-time, label-free protein. Deadline is very close, apply soon. Details : protemic.eu

protemic.eu

PROTEMIC – Integrated Spectroscopy for Protein Analysis

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OpenFlexure @openflexure.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Congratulations to the Biomanufacturing Group at ICGEB for winning a best exhibit prize at Maker Faire Trieste yesterday! 🏆 Their award-winning exhibit featured a number of OpenFlexure Microscopes, and aimed at help make biology accessible to everyone. 🔬

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