2020 BU Photonics Center Annual Report
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Boston University Photonics Center Annual Report 2020 Reliable deep learning for biomedical microscopy. Assistant Professor Lei Tian and collaborators developed a new Bayesian deep learning framework for computational phase microscopy that enables uncertainty quantification of the neural network predicted results, which in turn assesses the reliability of the prediction, identify system aberrations, prevents “hallucination,” as well as to detect novel and rare biological phenomena. Reprinted/Adapted with permission from Yujia Xue, Shiyi Cheng, Yunzhe Li, and Lei Tian. “Reliable deep- learning-based phase imaging with uncertainty quantification,” Optica, 2019, 6(5), 618-629. © The Optical Society. (Front Cover: A photo of the BU Photonics Center. Photo Credit: Vernon Doucette) Letter from the Director GREAT RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES are differentiated by the areas of specialization in which they choose to excel. Next year the Boston University Photonics Center community celebrates its twenty-fifth year as a sustained, prominent peak in the University’s research profile. Our community continues to thrive in all aspects of academic life, including production of scholarly works, leadership of major research grants, engagement with business innovators, and training of students at all levels. This annual report summarizes activities of the Photonics Center for the 2019- 2020 academic year. In it, you will find quantitative and descriptive information regarding our photonics programs in research, education, and technology development. Over the past year the income from grants that were awarded to Photonics Center faculty totaled about $38M, another record achievement. This increase in grant support has strengthened our capacity to train students, make innovative discoveries, and impact society. Located at the heart of Boston University’s urban campus, the Photonics Next year the Boston Center is an interdisciplinary hub for education, research, scholarship, innovation, and University Photonics technology development associated with practical uses of light. Our nine-story building houses world-class research facilities and shared laboratories dedicated to photonics Center community research and sustains the work of 49 active (and 7 emeritus) faculty members, 13 staff celebrates its twenty- members, and more than 100 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. fifth year as a On its foundation as a leading Boston University institution, the Photonics Center has adopted a mission to help to establish and support newer research centers sustained, prominent and university initiatives in allied fields.We routinely provide critical resources, peak in the infrastructure, and support for the creation of new units such as the Materials Science Division and for the Neurophotonics Center, and we help win and University’s research manage a portfolio of major research and training grants that have catalyzed profile. transformative growth in prominent research programs such as the Biological Design Center, the Precision Diagnostics Center, and the Center for Systems Neuroscience. Our Business Innovation Center, which has always been a hub for industry engagement at Boston University, is poised to become an asset for the recently established Office of Industry Engagement. This year, the Photonics Center began developing a new strategic plan. The worldwide pandemic has slowed our progress in that planning activity and has delayed our scheduled Center review until 2021. However, I did have the opportunity this year to meet with all of the Center’s faculty and staff to gather feedback and to discuss strategic initiatives that would be both forward-looking and bold. We know with certainty that our next strategic plan will be anchored by continuing commitments to leadership in academic achievement, innovative research, and immersive interdisciplinary training. I look forward to working with our community to complete this activity in the coming year. Thomas Bifano, Director BU Photonics Center Annual Report 2020 1 | By the Numbers 2 | Highlights of FY20 5 | Photonics Center Articles 14 | Mission Statement 15 | Strategic Goals: Projects and Their Rationale 17 | Educational Programs and Initiatives 18 | Business Innovation Center 21 | Events and Programs 24 | Facilities and Equipment 26 | Strategic Goals 27 | Scholarly Work of the Photonics Center Faculty 38 | Faculty List 42 | Faculty Committees 43 | Ph.D. Graduates and Their Dissertation Titles 44 | Leadership and Staff 46 | List of Awarded Grants BY THE NUMBERS 12 Innovation Center Companies 197 archival publications $27M FY20 research expenditures 4 shared labs faculty members56 from 122 funded R&D projects with departments11 $37.9M funding for R&D 13 representing 35PIs and staff members 33 center news posts 201 proposals submitted for $47M events32+ All figures reflect FY20 data. BOSTON UNIVERSITY PHOTONICS CENTER - 1 Highlights of FY20 • Photonics Center Management, is the Director of This year, the annual Photonics Continues to Play a Student Engagement. She also Center Symposium focused on Prominent Role in $20M manages ERC safety training. Enabling Precision Medicine Five-Year NSF CELL-MET Photonics Center staff member through Innovations in ERC Project Cynthia Kowal is Senior Team Biophotonics. Professor Ji- Associate where she manages Xin Cheng chaired the full-day Research and budgets and compliance for conference, which drew over administrative activities continued the ERC and reviews and 200 academic researchers, this past year on the NSF submits supplemental program government officials, graduate Engineering Research Center on proposals; Meghan Foley is students, and industry Cellular Metamaterials (CELL- Financial Manager for the participants. Invited speakers MET), which we administer. ERC; and Beth Mathisen is the from Boston University, Harvard This project to create heart Events & Communications University, Max Planck Institute, tissue patches is renewable for an Manager for the ERC. Rice University, Technical additional $20M for five years and University of Munich, and was in its third year of operation. Photonics Center University of Illinois, Urbana- This past year saw significant staff member Nozomi Ito is a Champaign, represented progress made in scientific and dedicated ERC staff member international leaders in the field. administrative areas. We expanded acting as the Administrative The day closed with networking resources and commitment from Manager. Carolyn Castillo and a student research poster the ERC in the areas of Diversity joined the ERC team this year session. and Culture of Inclusion and in a six-month Administrative Workforce Development and Internship. Photonics Center • Three New Faculty Education, adding support for leadership and staff are Members Join the the teams across the three core working collaboratively with Photonics Center institutions. the other two main partners at the University of Michigan The Photonics Center The BU Photonics Center (UM), and Florida International welcomed three new faculty faculty and staff continue to play University (FIU), as well as members: Associate Professor a prominent role in all aspects collaborators and subcontract Anna Devor from the Biomedical of the ERC. Photonics Center recipients Harvard University, Engineering department, and Professor David Bishop is PI and Harvard/Wyss Institute, Assistant Professors Steve Director of the ERC. Photonics Columbia University, North Ramirez and Ben Scott from the Center Director Thomas Bifano is Carolina State University, and Psychological and Brain Sciences leading the Imaging Thrust area; Fort Valley State University to department. Associate Professor Cara Ellis McCarthy, Director conduct project activities. Devor’s research focuses on for Finance, Administration neuroscience and neuroimaging; & Personnel Management, is • Photonics Center Assistant Professor Steve leading the Administrative team Organizes and Hosts Ramirez’s research focuses on as Administrative Director; and the 23rd Annual memory and optogenetics; and Thomas Dudley, Director of Photonics Center Assistant Professor Ben Scott’s Technical & Industry Programs, Symposium on Enabling research focuses on neural is leading the Innovation Precision Medicine dynamics and optical imaging. All Thrust. Helen Fawcett, Director Through Innovations in three faculty are also members of of Operations and Program Biophotonics the Neurophotonics Center. 2 - ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • Photonics Center Professors surgical outcomes and survival • Photonics Center Professor Brian Walsh and Joshua rates. Lin was awarded the Xin Zhang Awarded 2019 Semeter and Students’ Work scholarship based on his Institute of Engineering Showcased in Recent Satellite expected contribution to optics and Technology Innovation Launch into Space and photonics. Award Assistant Professor Walsh • Photonics Center Professor Zhang and Professor Semeter worked with Professors Ji-Xin Cheng, received the 2019 Institute of their students to launch a satellite Roberto Paiella, Selim Engineering and Technology into space carrying mini sensors Unlu, and Lawrence (IET) Innovation Award in the built by BU students. The launch Ziegler Awarded Ignition Emerging Technology Design took place in New Zealand in June Award from BU Office of category based on her team’s 2020. The sensors will study electric Technology Development magnetic metamaterials work for current in the Earth’s magnetic field improving MRI performance. that can cripple communications and Professors Cheng, Paiella,