Welcome to the Laboratory of Energy and Advanced Diagnostics (LEAD) at St. Olaf College! Our work focuses on the development and use of optical sensing techniques for the characterization of gaseous flows, the study of energy transfer phenomena, and the development of associated instrumentation and data analysis methodologies. LEAD provides unique educational opportunities to St. Olaf undergraduates to work with state-of-the-art instrumentation and develop research skills in a multidisciplinary environment. Our research activities are enriched by active partnership with collaborators within and outside the college, adding intellectual value to our work and increasing access to other experimental facilities.