SPIE Welcomes 40 New Fellows for 2026, Recognizing Exceptional Contributions to Optics and Photonics
The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), the global professional society dedicated to advancing the science of light, has announced the induction of 40 distinguished members as SPIE Fellows for 2026. This prestigious recognition honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding technical achievements, significant scientific contributions, and impactful leadership within the fields of optics, photonics, and imaging.
Since its founding in 1955, SPIE has celebrated the accomplishments of more than 1,800 Fellows, who represent the highest level of professional distinction within the Society. The 2026 class of Fellows joins this esteemed lineage, bringing diverse expertise spanning academia, industry, and government, and reflecting the Society’s ongoing commitment to innovation, mentorship, and community development within the optical sciences.
Honoring Excellence in Science and Service
SPIE Fellows are selected not only for their scientific and technical accomplishments but also for their dedication to advancing the optics and photonics community. Many of this year’s honorees have made notable contributions through mentoring, collaborative research, and leadership in professional and educational initiatives. Their work has had a profound impact on technological advancement, scientific discovery, and the global optics community.
Dr. Peter E. Andersen of the Technical University of Denmark, Chair of the SPIE Fellows Committee, emphasized the significance of this recognition:
It is always a pleasure to acknowledge our colleagues for their outstanding contributions to SPIE and the broader optics and photonics community, in addition to their remarkable technical achievements. On behalf of the Fellows Committee, I am delighted to welcome the new class of Fellows and congratulate them on their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to our Society.”
Global Leaders in Optics and Photonics
The 2026 class of SPIE Fellows represents a truly international and interdisciplinary cohort, encompassing a wide array of scientific specialties and professional experiences. Members hail from leading research institutions, universities, government laboratories, and companies worldwide, underscoring the global nature of optics and photonics research.
The new Fellows include:
- Antonio Ambrosio, Italian Institute of Technology
- Yasuhiro Awatsuji, Kyoto Institute of Technology
- Jovan Brankov, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Michael Brodsky, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory
- Christopher Carr, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Chih-Wei Chu, Research Center for Applied Science, Academia Sinica
- Brian Cunningham, University of Illinois
- Michael Davis, Southwest Research Institute
- Hamid Dehghani, University of Birmingham
- Sasan Fathpour, CREOL, College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida
- Mário Ferreira, University of Aveiro
- Ulrike Fuchs, asphericon GmbH
- Lingjie Guo, University of Michigan
- Duncan Hickman, Tektonex Ltd.
- Weida Hu, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Agnes Hübscher, Edmund Optics
- Toshiro Itani, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
- Ralf Jedamzik, SCHOTT AG
- Nobuhiko Kobayashi, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Ming-Jun Li, Corning Incorporated
- Yan Li, Peking University
- Yu-Jung Lu, Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica
- Curtis Menyuk, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- William Munro, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
- Síle Nic Chormaic, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
- Mark Niedre, Northeastern University
- Yannis Paulus, Wilmer Eye Institute
- Vicky Philipsen, imec
- Henning Rehn, Illuminatio Solutions GmbH
- Danuta Sampson, Lions Eye Institute
- Franklin Schellenberg, Haynes Beffel & Wolfeld
- Stuart Singer, Schneider Optics, Inc.
- Xiankai Sun, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Tadahiro Takigawa, ALITECS Co., Ltd.
- Chao Tian, University of Science and Technology of China
- Vasan Venugopalan, University of California, Irvine
- Pin Chieh Wu, National Cheng Kung University
- Rengmao Wu, Zhejiang University
- Xiaofeng Yang, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
- Renjie Zhou, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Celebrating and Sharing Achievements
New Fellows will be formally introduced at SPIE symposia of their choice throughout the year, providing an opportunity for the optics and photonics community to celebrate their contributions. Their induction highlights not only individual excellence but also the collaborative spirit that drives the global scientific community forward.
Through these recognitions, SPIE continues to champion innovation, mentorship, and leadership, ensuring the next generation of scientists and engineers are inspired and supported in their pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries in optics and photonics.
For a complete list of SPIE Fellows and additional information on the Fellows program, please visit [SPIE’s official website].
bout SPIE
SPIE, the International Society of Optics and Photonics, brings together engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals to advance light-related science and technology. Founded in 1955, the Society connects and builds relationships with its global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions, conference proceedings in the SPIE Digital Library, book and journal publications, and career advancement opportunities. In the past five years, SPIE has provided more than $26 million to the international optics community through outreach and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, gifts, and public policy development.
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