Dr. Jose Pozo is Director of Technology and Innovation at EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium). As EPIC’s CTO, he represents 350 companies active in the field of Photonics. His job consists on actively engaging with them and provide them with tools to strengthen their position in the supply chain; such tools are the organization of 20 technology workshops per year, provision of market intelligence and finding B2B leads. He has the vision that the future of optoelectronic manufacturing can take place in Europe to a large extent, and as part of that vision he is actively involved in the EU-funded pilot lines. He has 20 years’ background in photonics technology, market knowledge, and a large network within the industrial and academic photonics landscape. Dr. Pozo holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Bristol, U.K., and a M.Sc. and B.Eng. in telecom engineering from UPNA (Spain) / VUB (Belgium). In addition, Dr. Jose Pozo has worked as post-doctoral researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands), EU proposal coordinator at TNO (The Netherlands), and Sr. Photonics Technology Consultant at PNO Consultants.

Dr. Alex Kazemi a world recognized Micro Technologist, and materials scientist is the CEO and President of ARK International LLC is focusing on development of fiber optics, miniaturized fiber components, fiber optic sensors, and micro/nano technology of laser components for aviation, aerospace and space applications. He is developer of the lightest fiber optic cable in aviation history, World 1st fiber optic sensor for rocket engine, U.S. 1st fiber optic delivery system for micro welding of laser chips, and leading-edge technologies. He is The Boeing Company Fiber Optic Architect, Associate Technical Fellow, and worked for 25 years for Boeing as well as 10 years for telecom, lasers, sensors and MEMS industries. He also taught physics and materials science for several years at University of Southern California. Currently he is the Principal Consultant for development of new generation of fiber optics and sensors to the Boeing Company. He has authored/edited 8 books and one book chapter in the area of photonics, lasers, sensors, fiber optics, micro and nano technologies, plus published over48 papers in International Journals and hundreds of presentations throughout of conferences and technical community’s world-wide. In recent survey by “Research Gate” organization over 1000of his peers reviewed his published papers. In 2018, 2019 and 2021 three separate International Awards were presented to him for the phenomenal presentation for his research on fiber optic sensor and lasers. He has been Chairman of SPIE International Conferences in Photonics Applications for Fiber Optic Sensors and Lasers for 8 years and Chairman, Chief Scientific Committee and Chief Editor of Excel Global International Conference on Lasers, Optics, Photonics, and Sensors in 2021. He has bestowed hundreds of recognitions, awards and patents

Dr. Doug Dykaar is the founder of DifTek Lasers, Inc. He received the PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 1987 in Gerard Mourou's Ultrafast Science group. He was a member of technical staff at AT&T Bell Labs Murray Hill, Research manager at DALSA, and Research Scientist at Thalmic/North. Doug also taught at Conestoga College in their 4-year Bachelor of Engineering Program. At last count, he had over 100 patent applications and 60 publications. His research interests span lasers to superconductivity to materials science to composite electronics.

Peter J. Delfyett received the B.E.(E.E.) degree from The City College of New York in 1981, the M.S. degree in EE from The University of Rochester in 1983, the M. Phil and Ph.D. degrees from The Graduate School & University Center of the City University of New York in 1987 and 1988, respectively. His Ph.D. thesis was focused on developing a real time ultrafast spectroscopic probe to study molecular and phonon dynamics in condensed matter using optical phase conjugation techniques. After obtaining the Ph.D. degree, he joined Bell Communication Research as a Member of the Technical Staff, where he concentrated his efforts towards generating ultrafast high power optical pulses from semiconductor diode lasers, for applications in applied photonic networks. Some of his technical accomplishments were the development of the world’s fastest, most powerful modelocked semiconductor laser diode, the demonstration of an optically distributed clocking network for high speed digital switches and supercomputer applications, and the first observation of the optical nonlinearity induced by the cooling of highly excited electron-hole pairs in semiconductor optical amplifiers. While at Bellcore, Dr. Delfyett received numerous awards for his technical achievements in these areas, including the Bellcore Synergy Award and the Bellcore Award of Appreciation. Dr. Delfyett joined the faculty at the College of Optics & Photonics and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) at the University of Central Florida in 1993, and currently holds the positions of University of Central Florida Trustee Chair Professor of Optics, ECE & Physics. Dr. Delfyett served as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics (2001-2006), and served on the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America. He served as an Associate Editor of IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, was Executive Editor of IEEE LEOS Newsletter (1995-2000) and sits on the Presidential Science Advisory Council of the Orlando Science Center. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, Fellow of IEEE/LEOS, was a member of the Board of Governors of IEEE-LEOS (2000-2002), and is also a member of Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Sigma Xi, and SPIE. Dr. Delfyett has been awarded the 1992 YMCA New Jersey Black Achievement Award, the 1993 National Black Engineer of the Year Award – Most Promising Engineer, the University Distinguished Research Award ’99, and highlighted in Design News’ “Engineering Achievement Awards”. In addition, Dr. Delfyett has been awarded the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Faculty Fellow Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, which is awarded to the Nation’s top 20 young scientists. Dr. Delfyett has published over 500 articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings, has been awarded 30 United States Patents, and has been highlighted on ‘C-SPAN’, “mainstreekweek.com” and in “Career Encounters”, a PBS Special on technical careers in the optics and photonics field. Dr. Delfyett was awarded the 1999 University Distinguished Researcher of the Year Award, the 2000 Black Engineer of the Year Award – Outstanding Alumnus Achievement, and the 2000 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. He was awarded the University of Central Florida’s 2001 Pegasus Professor Award which is the highest honor awarded by the University. He is also a Founding Member in NSF’s Scientists and Engineers in the School Program, which is a program to teach 8th graders about the benefits of science, engineering and technology in society. In 2003, Dr. Delfyett received the Technology Innovation Award from the Orlando Economic Development Commission. He was selected as one of the “50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science in 2004” and as a “Science Trailblazer in 2005 and 2006” by Career Communications Group and Science Spectrum Magazine. Dr. Delfyett has also endeavored to transfer technology to the private sector, and helped to found “Raydiance, Inc.” which is a spin-off company developing high power, ultrafast laser systems, based on Dr. Delfyett’s research, for applications in medicine, defense, material processing, biotech and other key technological markets. Dr. Delfyett was also elected to serve 2 terms as President of the National Society of Black Physicists (2008-2012). Most recently, he was awarded the APS Edward Bouchet Award for his significant scientific contributions in the area of ultrafast optical device physics and semiconductor diode based ultrafast lasers, and for his exemplary and continuing efforts in the career development of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering. Awards & Honors International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) Fellow American Physical Society (APS) Fellow IEEE Photonics Society Fellow Optical Society of America (OSA) Fellow 2019 Excellence in Graduate Teaching College Award 2014 Florida Academy of Science’s 2014 Medalist 2013 National Academy of Inventors Fellow 2013 Letter of Appreciation – SPIE 2013 Faculty Excellence for Mentoring Doctoral Students 2013 College Research Incentive Award (RIA) 2012 Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students 2012 College Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award 2012 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award 2011 Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award 2011 APS Edward Bouchet Award 2010 American Physical Society Edward Bouchet Award 2010 IEEE Photonic Society Graduate Student Fellowship 2010 SPIE Educational Scholarship in Optical Science and Engineering 2010 Incubic/Milton Chang Travel Award to attend CLEO 2006 Science Spectrum Trailblazer 2005 District Advocate for the American Physical Society 2005 Science Spectrum Outstanding Black Professional in Science 2003 Technology Innovation Award 2003 UCF Millionaire’s Club 2002 Pegasus Professor Award 2002 UCF Distinguished Research Professor Award 2002 UCF Millionaire’s Club 2001 UCF Nguzo Saba Award 2000 Research Incentive Award (RIA) Research Group
Conducting research on ultrafast high power optical pulses from semiconductor diode lasers, for applications in applied photonic networks and laser induced materials modification.

I lead the Mid-Infrared Photonics Group at the University of Nottingham, UK. My vision is to bring about a new paradigm in mid-infrared (MIR) biophotonics for portable, real-time, sensing and imaging in medicine based on new MIR fibreoptics, including for real-time, in vivo cancer diagnosis. I run a world-class suite of labs. dedicated to the synthesis and characterisation of long-wavelength mid-infrared optical fibres and devices. My seminal 1995 paper cited 591x rekindled interest in MIR chalcogenide-glass photonics. The Royal Academy of Engineering / Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship (2007 / 08) & Medical Research Council, Discipline Hopping Fellowship (2008 / 09) were awarded to initiate my MIR biophotonics’ research. My Optics Express review re-set some ground rules for achieving MIR fibre lasingcited 274x. With DTU, Denmark, we set a world record (held for 6 months) in 2014 in broadband MIR sources demonstrating a MIR-supercontinuum spanning 1.4 mm to 13.3 mm spectral range in fibrecited 745x.This was the first experimental demonstration truly to reveal the potential of MIR fibres to emit across the MIR molecular ”fingerprint spectral region” and a key first step towards bright, portable, broadband MIR sources for biomolecular sensing, including for cancer detection. I am elected Fellow of SPIE for special contribution to glass photonics, Fellow of the Society of Glass Technology, Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. 269 publications, 238 talks at conferences and institutions, including 100 invited.

Dr. Hesketh's research interests are in Sensors and Micro/Nano-electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS). Many sensors are built by micro/nanofabrication techniques and this provides a host of advantages including lower power consumption, small size and light weight. The issue of manipulation of the sample in addition to introduce it to the chemical sensor array is often achieved with microfluidics technology. Combining photolithographic processes to define three-dimensional structures can accomplish the necessary fluid handling, mixing, and separation through chromatography. For example, demonstration of miniature gas chromatography and liquid chromatography with micromachined separation columns demonstrates how miniaturization of chemical analytical methods reduces the separation time so that it is short enough, to consider the measurement equivalent to "read-time" sensing. A second focus area is biosensing. Professor Hesketh has worked on a number of biomedical sensors projects, including microdialysis for subcutaneous sampling, glucose sensors, and DNA sensors. Magnetic beads are being investigated as a means to transport and concentrate a target at a biosensor interface in a microfluidic format, in collaboration with scientists at the CDC. His research interests also include nanosensors, nanowire assembly by dielectrophoresis; impedance based sensors, miniature magnetic actuators; use of stereolithography for sensor packaging. He has published over sixty papers and edited fifteen books on microsensor systems.

Distinctions & Awards

Satish Dhwan Visiting Chair Professor, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, INIDA, 2019
Thank a Teacher Award for ME4766 Micro/Nano-Scale Devices (2018)
Georgia Institute of Technology Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award, 2017
Thank a Teacher Award for ME3345 Introduction to Heat Transfer (2017)
Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award, jointly with M. Bakir, S. Graham, S. Sitaraman, M. Swaminathan, M. Tentzeris (2017)
Editorial Board of Journal published by Nature: Microsystems and Nanoengineering (2015)
President of the Georgia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi (2014-16)
Outstanding Achievement Award of the Sensor Division of the Electrochemical Society (2014)
Sigma Xi, Vice President of Georgia Tech Chapter, 2012-2014 Chair of Honors and Awards Committee, Electrochemical Society, 2011-2013
Georgia Tech Center for Enhanced Teaching and Learning Tech to Teaching Mentor Award, 2010
Thank a Teacher Certificate, 2008 and 2010
Class of 1969 Teaching Fellow, 2002
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow, 2009
The Electrochemical Society (ECS)
Fellow, 2009
Chairman Sensor Division, 1998-2000
Guest Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2005-2007
Artech House, Inc. MEMS Series Editor, 2003-2005
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, 2004
Whitaker Foundation Biomedical Engineering Research Grant Award, 1994-98


Patents

A. Lotfi, M. Navaei, P. J. Hesketh, “Balanced Thermal Conductivity Gas Sensor Provisional patent Application number 62852615, May 24th 2019
S. Hanasoge, P. J. Hesketh, A. Alexeev, “System and Methods to Produce Metachronal Motion of Artificial Magnetic Cilia” U.S. Patent Application No. 62/748,641 October 22nd 2018 Single Substrate Electromagnetic Actuator, U. S. Patent 7474180, with J. Sutano-Bintro, issued January 6, 2009 Apparatus for Fluid Storage and Delivery at a Substantially Constant-Pressure, U. S. Patent 7,471,337, with R. Luharuka and C.-F. Wu, issued January 27, 2009
Miniature Optically Coupled Electrically Isolated Ultrasensitive Dynamic Pressure Detector, U.S. Patent 7,392,707, with Lid Wong and Sangkyung Kim, July 1, 2008
Porous Gas Sensors and Method of Preparation Thereof, U.S. Patent 7,141,859, with J. Gole, J. DeBoer, and S. Lewis, November 28, 2006
Porous Gas Sensors and Method of Preparation Thereof, U.S. Patent 6,893,892 B2, with J. Gole and S. Lewis, May, 17, 2005
Microfabricated Porous Silicon Gas Sensor, U.S. Patent 6,673,644, with L. T. Seals and J. L. Gole, January 6, 2004
Pin Array Assembly and Method of Manufacture, U.S. Patent 6,455,352, with Joel Pikarsky and Gennadiy Yershov, September 24, 2002
Miniature Electrically Operated Diaphragm Valve, U. S. Patent 6,328,279, with Douglas R. Adkins, Barry L. Spletzer, Chungnin C. Wong, Gregory C. Frye-Mason, and Gary J. Fisher, December 11, 2001
Antibody Covalently Bound Immunobiosensor, U. S. Patent No. 5,567,301, with J. Stetter, S. Gendel, and G. J. Maclay, October 22, 1996
Miniature Pressure Sensor and Pressure Sensor Arrays, U. S Patent No. 5,277,067, with C. E. Holland, January 11, 1994 Miniature Pressure Sensor and Pressure Sensor Arrays, U. S Patent No. 5,163,328, with C. E. Holland, November 17, 1992 Thermopile Having Reduced Thermal Noise, U. S. Patent 5,087,312, with Martin T. Gerber, February 11, 1992

Dr. Lingyan Shi’s pioneering work in developing and applying novel optical techniques has led to a number of significant breakthroughs in biophotonics with major implications for the fields of neuroscience and cancer research and is allowing us to visualize the mechanisms underlying everyday processes and disease. One of Dr. Shi’s most significant discoveries has been the development of a new experimental technique that combines heavy water labeling and a relatively new imaging method, stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, to probe the metabolic activities of living tissues at subcellular resolution in situ. This discovery facilitates the visualization of tumor boundaries, embryonic development, and even aging in biological tissue. Another significant scientific contribution is her discovery of the “Golden Optical Window” – a unique band of infrared wavelengths that can penetrate deeper into biological tissues than other wavelengths of light during imaging, thereby dramatically increasing the imaging depth possible in brain tissue by as much as 50%. In addition, Dr. Shi has developed an early-detection spectral technique that could provide doctors with a tool for the early-stage detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

Boris Gramatikov is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University, Department of Ophthalmology. He obtained his Dipl.- Ing. degree in Biomedical Engineering in Germany, and his Ph.D. in Bulgaria. He has completed a number of postdoctoral studies in Germany, Italy and the United States. He joined the faculty of the Biomedical Engineering Department of Johns Hopkins in 1996, and has been working in the Laboratory of Ophthalmic Instrumentation Development at The Wilmer Eye Institute since 2000. His areas of expertise include electronics, optoelectronics, computers, computer modeling, signal/image processing, data analysis, instrumentation design, biophotonics, ophthalmic and biomedical optics, and polarization optics, all applied to the development of diagnostic methods and devices for ophthalmology and vision research. His team has developed a series of pediatric vision screeners. He has over 120 publications, 41 of which in high-impact peer- reviewed journals. He serves as a reviewer and editorial board member with a number of technical and medical journals. Boris is the Director for Continuing Education of the Baltimore Section of the IEEE.

Dr. Haishan Zeng is a distinguished scientist with the Integrative Oncology Department (Imaging Unit) of the BC Cancer Research Centre and a professor of Dermatology, Pathology, and Physics at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. For over 30 years, Dr. Zeng’s research has been focused on the optical properties of biological tissues, light-tissue interaction, and nanomaterials enhanced light-tissue interaction as well as their applications in medical diagnosis and therapy. His group has pioneered the multiphoton absorption based laser therapy and is at the leading position in endoscopy imaging and Raman spectroscopy for in vivo early cancer detection, and silver/gold nanoparticles based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of body fluids for cancer screening. He has published over 170 refereed journal papers, 17 book chapters, and 1 book (“Diagnostic Endoscopy”, CRC Press Series in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering). Dr. Zeng serves as Editorial Board members for the Journal of Biomedical Optics and the recently launched Translational Biophotonics. He is an Executive Organizing Committee member of the annual SPIE International Symposium on Biomedical Optics. Dr. Zeng’s research has generated 28 granted patents related to optical diagnosis and therapy. Several medical devices derived from these patents including fluorescence endoscopy (ONCO-LIFE™) and rapid Raman spectroscopy (Vita Imaging Aura™) have passed regulatory approvals and are currently in clinical uses around the world. The Aura™ device using Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive skin cancer detection was awarded the Prism Award in the Life Sciences and Biophotonics category in 2013 by SPIE - the International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Andrei Afanasev currently leads the physics effort for the GWU energy initiative. He has made significant research contributions in the field of nuclear and particle physics probed with high-power electron accelerators and free-electron lasers. Presently Prof. Afanasev contributes to energy research in three areas: (a) High-power particle accelerators that may serve as drivers for accelerator-driven subcritical nuclear reactors (ADSR), as well as probes of new materials for energy applications; (b) Development of novel techniques in photovoltaics, including nanostructures, quantum dots, and surface acoustic waves; (c) New technologies for non-proliferation of nuclear materials. Prof. Afanasev is the Director of the Photoemission Research Laboratory where new solutions for particle accelerator sources and photovoltaics are being developed and tested.

Research Interests: Nuclear & Particle Physics, Physics of Particle Accelerators; Quantum Electrodynamics; Condensed Matter Physics

Brock Koren is an executive with over 25 years of experience in high technology companies and has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the California State University of Long Beach. Mr. Koren is currently the Director of Sales/Business Development for DRS Daylight Solutions, the world’s leading provider of best-in-class mid-infrared, quantum cascade laser sources for the life sciences, research, industrial, and defense industries. Mr. Koren was most recently the Vice President of Sales and Marketing/Product Management for Gamma Scientific, a manufacturer of light measurement instruments for display testing, LED testing, light meters, light sources, and spectrometers. He is a native Californian and has spent his entire life in Southern California. He currently resides in San Diego, where he enjoys physical and outdoor activities and restoring vintage Tektronix Oscilloscopes.

Dr. Ivan Divliansky is a Research Assistant Professor in Optics and Photonics at CREOL- The College of Optics and Photonics at UCF with more than 20 years of experience. Dr. Divliansky has 33 peer review publications in journals such as Nature Photonics, Light: Science & Applications, Advanced Materials, Applied Physics Letters, Optics Letters, and others with over 1550 total citations and h-index of 16 (Google Scholar). He has edited one book and authored two book chapters, co-authored two patents, and is an Editorial Board member of the Journal of Lasers, Optics & Photonics. He is also frequent referee for Optics Express, Optics Letters, Applied Optics, and other peer review journals. Currently, his research topics include solid state and fiber lasers systems design, high-power laser beam combining, implementation of volume Bragg gratings in different photonics areas, and others. His research has also led to new applications and further development of various volume holographic elements.

Nicolas Javahiraly is an associate professor in physics at the University of Strasbourg. He did his PhD in Photonics at the same university on fiber optic sensors. After a post-doc at Harvard University on the interaction between ultra-short laser pulses and matter, he worked as a project manager and expert in the Sagem Defense group in Paris. He joined the University of Strasbourg in 2007 and is currently working on nano-optical sensors and plasmonics for various applications such as gas detection, pollutants detection and photo conversion systems for example.

Dr. Zhongping Chen is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the OCT Laboratory at the University of California, Irvine. He is a Co-founder and Chairman of OCT Medical Imaging Inc. Dr. Chen received his B.S. degree in Applied Physics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1982, his M. S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1987, and his Ph.D. degree in Applied Physics from Cornell University in 1993. Dr. Chen and his research group have pioneered the development of Doppler optical coherence tomography, which simultaneously provides high resolution 3-D images of tissue structure and vascular flow dynamics. These functional extensions of OCT offer contrast enhancements and provide mapping of many clinically important parameters. In addition, his group has developed a number of endoscopic and intravascular rotational and linear miniature probes for OCT and MPM imaging and translated this technology to clinical applications. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and review articles and holds a number of patents in the fields of biomaterials, biosensors, and biomedical imaging. Dr. Chen is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a Fellow of SPIE, and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America.

Arjun Yodh received his B.Sc. degree from Cornell, and his Ph.D. degree from Harvard in Atomic Physics under the guidance of Tom Mossberg. He carried out postdoctoral research at AT&T Bell Laboratories, working with Steven Chu and Harry Tom. Yodh joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania as an Assistant Professor in 1988. Today, he is the James M. Skinner Professor of Science at Penn. He has taken on various leadership roles during this time. Notably, he was Director of Penn’s Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) and its NSF-funded Materials Science and Engineering Research Center (MRSEC) for 11 years from 2009-2020. Currently, he is the Chair of Penn’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Yodh’s research is multi-faceted. He is a pioneer in the field of biomedical optics. He was recently recognized by the Optical Society in 2021 with the Feld Prize in Biophotonics for his contributions to the development of the theoretical framework and clinical translation of diffuse optical spectroscopy and tomography technologies. He and his group were among the first to predict and experimentally demonstrate wave-like propagation properties of diffuse photon density waves, and to develop the image reconstruction algorithms needed to generate 3D tomographic images based on diffuse optical and diffuse correlation measurements. His more recent work includes demonstrating and clinically translating light diffusion concepts for noninvasive imaging and monitoring of tissue blood flow, hemodynamics, metabolic responses, and therapeutics in cancer and brain. Finally, Yodh is a dedicated mentor, advising and having advised more than 100 Ph.D. students and postdoctoral associates, and playing an influential role in several educational outreach programs that promote STEM activities at all levels.
Director, Laboratory for Research on Structure of Matter (LRSM) and NSF-MRSEC (2009-2020), James M. Skinner Professor of Science, University of Pennsylvania (2000-present), Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania (1997 – present), Associate Professor of Physics, University of Pennsylvania (1993-97), Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Pennsylvania (1988-93), Postdoctoral Research Associate with Harry W. K. Tom, AT&T Bell Labs (1987-88), Postdoctoral Research Associate with Steven Chu, AT&T Bell Labs (1986-87)

Ali Adibi is the director for the Center for Advanced Processing-tools for Electromagnetic/acoustics Xtals (APEX) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received his B.S.E.E. from Shiraz University (Iran) in 1990, and received his M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology (1994) and the California Institute of Technology (2000), respectively. His Ph.D. research resulted in a breakthrough in persistent holographic storage in photorefractive crystals. Dr. Adibi worked as a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology from 1999 to 2000. In 2000, he joined the faculty of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is now an associate professor. Dr. Adibi has a wide range of research interests in both theoretical and experimental aspects of photonic devices and materials. His research has resulted in more than 50 journal and more than 100 conference publications, as well as several invention disclosures and patents. Dr. Adibi has received several prestigious awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from the White House, CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Packard Fellowship from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Dr. Adibi has been the conference chair for several conferences, including the "Photonic Crystal Materials and Devices" conference in the Photonics West Meeting. He has served as a technical committee member for several conferences organized by IEEE, Optical Society of America (OSA), and The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE). He is a senior member of IEEE and a member of Sigma Xi, OSA, SPIE, and ASM. He is also the chair of the IEEE LEOS Atlanta Chapter.

Dr Alexander Doronin is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). His research interests are interdisciplinary and lie at the interface between Computer Graphics, Biomedical Optics and most recently Artificial Intelligence focusing on modelling of light transport in turbid media, development of novel optical diagnostics modalities, physically-based rendering, optical measurements/instrumentation, acquisition and building of realistic material models, colour perception, translucency, appearance and biomedical visualization. He has extensive recognized experience in the design of forward and inverse algorithms of light scattering in turbid tissue-like media simulations and created a generalized Monte Carlo model of photon migration which has found a widespread application as an open-access computational tool for the needs of light transport communities in Biophotonics, Biomedical Imaging and Graphics.

Ming Yan, Ph.D. has served as our Chief Technology Officer and a member of our board of directors since 2015. Dr. Yan is also a co-founder of our company. Dr. Yan has over 20 years of experience in research and development. Prior to joining our company, Dr. Yan held research and development positions at AT&T Bell Laboratories, a research and development division of AT&T Communications, a telecommunication company, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, a federal research facility, and BD Biosciences, a biotechnology company. Dr. Yan has published several research papers relating to laser spectroscopy and cell analysis in top peer-reviewed journals. He has over a dozen patents and pending patent applications for his innovations. Dr. Yan holds a B.S. in Physics from Fudan University and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the City University of New York.

Dr. Lei Li is an assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Electrical Engineering at California Institute of Technology in 2019. He received his MS at Washington University in St. Louis in 2016. His research focuses on developing next-generation medical imaging technology for understanding the brain better, diagnosing early-stage cancer, and wearable monitoring of human vital signs. He was selected as a TED fellow in 2021 and a rising star in Engineering in Health by Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University (2021). He received the Charles and Ellen Wilts Prize from Caltech in 2020 and was selected as one of the Innovators Under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2019. He is also a two-time winner of the Seno Medical Best Paper Award granted by SPIE (2017 and 2020, San Francisco).

I joined the department of Electrical and Computer engineering of the University of Toronto with a mixed experience in academic as well as industrial environments. I received both my M.Sc. (9/1995) and Ph.D. (11/1998) degrees from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in the field of photonics. I was a European Union-sponsored research fellow on project to study difference frequency generation in III-V heterostructures using Quantum well intermixing in 1999. Between 2000 and 2004 I joined Agilent Technologies, where I was involved in developing different Photonic devices ranging form high reliability high power submarine-class 980 nm lasers, to DFBs for un-cooled high temperature operation, to integrated laser/modulator/amplifier devices. My Research Interests include; Photonic device physics and characterization techniques, non-linear optics in III-V semiconductors, applied optical spectroscopy for III-V optoelectronic devices and materials, III-V fabrication and monolithic integration techniques.

Professor Chen’s research group performs interdisciplinary research in optics science and photonic engineering. We develop innovative laser technology for advanced manufacturing and clean energy production; distributed optical sensors for energy and robotics applications; photonic integrated circuits for compact optical system developments; distributed sensor enabled artificial intelligence data analytics and digital twins; and sensor fused additive manufacturing. Our research group is superiorly equipped with both world-class research equipment and highly capable innovators. This powerful combination enables us to produce high-impact scientific knowledge, highly valuable intellectual properties, mission-critical product prototypes, and important technology know-how for our national lab and industry partners. Unlike a "conventional" optics group, our research team includes highly trained researchers with diverse technical backgrounds in laser, fiber optics, material sciences, renewable energy, electronics and FPGA, mechatronics, radar and imaging processing, and machine learning. This diversity keeps us open-minded and drives interdisciplinary innovations. As a collaboration friendly and inclusive research team, Professor Chen works with 14 highly motivated researchers including 5 female PhD and PDF researchers. Our group is well-known in industry for strong capabilities in reel-to-reel fabrication of distributed fiber sensors and in the development turn-key fiber sensor interrogation instruments for advanced energy systems..

Prof. Abrahamse BSc (RAU), BSc Honours (Biochemistry; US and Psychology; UNISA), MSc (Medical Biochemistry; US), PhD (Molecularbiology/Biochemistry; Wits University), Executive Leadership (Gibs, UP), Global Clinical Scholar Research Program (Harvard Medical School) is currently the Director of the Laser Research Centre, UJ and DST/NRF SARChI Chair for Laser Applications in Health (2016-2025). She is appointed as Adjunct Professor to the Manipal College of Health Professions, India. Her research interests include photobiology and photochemistry with specific reference to Photodynamic cancer therapy and Photobiomodulation. She was the recipient of the Faculty of Health Sciences highest research output for 2009 and the University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Outstanding Researcher of the Year, 2010 and again in 2020 and the NLC Rental pool grant-holder bestresearch output for 2008, most masters graduates 2013 and most IP produced 2013 and most doctorategraduates, 2014. She was runner up to the DST WISA Distinguished Scientist award in 2015 and placed second in the SAWiSA awards, 2023. She was granted a DST/NRF SARChI chair in 2016 which was renewed for another 5 years in 2020.In 2019 she received the International Photodynamic Association Humanitarian award recognize those who have made selfless efforts and personal sacrifices to enhance and promote the science of Photodynamic therapy and in 2022 she received the International Photodynamic Association for Basic PDT Research Excellence Award. She was also awarded the South African Higher Education Resources Services Lifetime Achiever award in 2023. According to Expertscape: The expertise of Heidi Abrahamse ranks in the Top 0.0044% of 44 977 published authors worldwide on Photosensitizing Agents from 2012 through 2023 based on contributions to 44 articles on the topic. https://expertscape.com/au/photosensitizing+agents/Abrahamse%2C+H She has supervised 63 masters, 38 doctorates and 26 post-doctorate fellows. She has acted as external examiner for masters and doctorate theses from several national and international universities and has an impressive record for external grant applications. Her international standing as a researcher of distinction is supported by the fact that she has hosted 6 international conferences including the World Association for Laser Therapy, Photodynamic therapy conference supported by the DST SA/Germany year of science, a Phototherapy workshop, Biophotonics in Cancer symposium and Photobiomodulation:Trends in Disease Management in 2022. She has co-chaired 6 BRICS meetings in 2020, 2021 Brazil and2021, 2023 Russia and the International Commission for Optics, Optics & Photonics AFRICA 2023. She was the president of the international society, WALT for 2010 to 2012. She has been invited to present her research at several international conferences as invited, keynote or plenary presenter. Her society membership include: SASBMB; ASBMB; ASCB; ISO; WALT; OSA; WALA; EMLA; NAALT; and ISLA. She has acted as external and panel reviewer for external national and international funding bodiesand grants and played an instrumental role in negotiating memorandums of understanding with several international institutions. Her publication record is impressive with 298 peer reviewed accredited journal publications, 64 accredited full paper proceedings, 52 chapters and 2 books. She is currently a NRF B2 rated scientist with a Scopus H-index of 48, Google scholar H-index of 57 and a ResearchGate H-index of 51. She serves on international councils, executive committees and board of directors including the World Academy of Laser Applications, European Medical Laser Association and the African Laser Centreand serves on the editorial boards of 8 peer-reviewed internationally accredited journals while acting as reviewer for over 50 journals. She was appointed Co-Editor in Chief of the international accredited journal Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery and Associate Editor of Journal of photochemistry and photobiology A: Chemistry. Her academic career span more than 33 years and provide her with substantial experience in tertiary education, lecturing and research. She has lectured 6 different subjects from first year to fourth year level. She serves on several research-related university committees for both universities and science councils and World Health Organization International EMF Project – South Africa National Committee. She currently serves her second term on the University of Johannesburg Council as elected Senate representative and was appointed by the Minister of Health to serve on the National Health Research Committee of South Africa for 2020-2023. She is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa

Wojtek Walecki received his Ph.D. in Physics and his Master's in Engineering from Brown University in 1994 and 1992 respectively, and a Masters in Physics from Warsaw University in 1988. He did his postdoctoral research at Cornell University. His academic interests were focused on ultrafast spectroscopy of semiconductors and semiconducting devices from UV to THz spectral range. Later Wojtek worked as Semiconductor Diagnostics Program Manager, Product Manager, Worldwide Product Manager, and Division Manager in several companies including ThermoOriel, Lambda Physik, Frontier Semiconductor, and until the fall of 2016, Sunrise Optical LLC. In August 2016, Wojtek returned to Frontier Semiconductor, this time as Chief Technology Officer. Later he left Frontier Semiconductors and created Optoprofiler LLC He is the author of about 80 publications, and 25 granted US Patents.

Ping Lu is currently a senior R&D scientist at OFS Fitel LLC, where he develops specialty fibers and fiber sensors for industrial, aerospace, and medical applications. He obtained his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2012, where he researched the micro-structured optical fibers. Before joining OFS, he worked at the National Energy Technology Laboratory to establish one of the only optical fiber sensor interrogator programs among DOE national labs. His current research interests focus on developing advanced fiber-optic sensing systems for low-cost distributed multi-parameter environmental monitoring. He has authored or co-authored over 100 research papers in the field of fiber optics and laser physics.

Yang Yue received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering and optics from Nankai University, China, in 2004 and 2007, respectively. He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California, USA, in 2012. He is a Professor with the School of Information and Communications Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China. Dr. Yue’s current research interest is intelligent photonics, including optical communications, optical perception, and optical chip. He has published over 260 journal papers (including Science) and conference proceedings with >10,000 citations, six edited books, two book chapters, >60 issued or pending patents, >200 invited presentations (including 1 tutorial, >30 plenary and >50 keynote talks). Dr. Yue is a Fellow of SPIE, a Senior Member of IEEE and Optica. He is an Associate Editor for IEEE Access and Frontiers in Physics, Editor Board Member for four other scientific journals, Guest Editor for >10 journal special issues. He also served as Chair or Committee Member for >100 international conferences, Reviewer for >70 prestigious journals.

Dr. Mustafa Kansiz is currently the Director of Product Management and Marketing for the mIRage IR Microscope at Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp with responsibilities for new product development, marketing and applications development. He has over 25 years of experience working with FTIR Microscopy and Imaging and Raman, spanning routine to research applications, in both industry and academia. Throughout his time, he has worked at Varian and Agilent Technologies serving in a range of technical and business development roles, including FTIR Microscopy & Imaging Product Manager, Product Specialist, R&D Scientist and European FTIR Sales Manager. He has a Ph.D. from Monash University on biotechnological application of FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate statistics.

Dr. Wang’s research group, Optical Imaging Laboratory at the U-M School of Medicine, is focused on imaging system development, and adaptation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to laboratory research and clinical settings, especially those involving light and ultrasound. Major part of our research is focused on clinical applications of photoacoustic imaging, including those involving breast cancer, inflammatory arthritis, prostate cancer, liver conditions, bowel disease, eye conditions, and brain disorders. We are also interested in design and fabrication of multi-functional nanoparticle agents (e.g. metallic, hydrogel) for both diagnosis and therapy, as well as interactions between nanoparticles and cells.