Faraneh Fathi, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been awarded a $4,000 Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, for potential contributions to the field of optics, photonics, or related field.
Fathi works in the Bio-photonic Laboratory, mentored by Guoqiang Yu, on the development of noninvasive depth-sensitive optical technologies for high-density imaging of deep tissue blood flow and oxygenation.
“Being awarded the SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship is an esteemed global recognition
which will support my success in bio-photonics. I am grateful that such a prominent scientific optical society recognizes the significance of my research and the advancements I have made in fostering a brighter future for optics in healthcare,” said Fathi. “My short-term goal is to create an SPIE student chapter at the university to inspire other students working in this field. My long-term goal is to establish a startup company to commercialize innovative optical imaging technologies for healthcare.”
Over the past three years, Fathi has been involved in a variety leadership roles on campus. She was elected vice-president of Graduate Student Congress (GSC), chaired their award committee and served as a department representative, co-chaired a conference for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and served as vice-president of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) student chapter.
Fathi has also received the following university awards: the Halcomb Fellowship in Medicine and Engineering, Joyce Evans Outstanding Service Award, Academic Excellence Scholarship, the Financial Stability Pillar Award and a research award.
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development.