Sara Abbasi Defends Her PhD on Photonics-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Hemoglobin Analysis
On 10 October 2025, Sara Abbasi successfully defended her PhD thesis “Photonics-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for the Identification of Hemoglobin Fractions” at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) B‑PHOT Brussels Photonics, under the supervision of Prof. Heidi Ottevaere and Dr. Qing Liu.
Sara’s research was conducted within the framework of the EU-funded VortexLC project, which aims to develop a compact and affordable Point‑of‑Care (POC) device for diabetes monitoring. Her PhD focused on the design and optimization of the optical detection module for identifying hemoglobin variants using Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) techniques.
By integrating SERS enhancement, microlens arrays and machine learning, her work demonstrates how photonics can enable accurate and rapid detection of hemoglobin fractions, overcoming current limitations in HbA1c testing. This approach paves the way toward more reliable and accessible diagnostic tools for diabetes management.
Reflecting on her PhD journey, Sara shares:
“Throughout my PhD, I learned that collaboration is not just a tool, it’s the essence of scientific discovery. The B‑PHOT community provided the perfect environment to exchange ideas and grow as a researcher.”
Her research exemplifies how photonics serves as a powerful connector between disciplines, advancing healthcare innovation through close collaboration among engineers, physicists, chemists, and medical researchers.
Reflections and Next Steps
After successfully defending her PhD, Sara Abbasi continues her journey as a postdoctoral researcher in the Biophotonics team at B‑PHOT. She will further contribute to the VortexLC and PhotonHub projects, while actively supporting Phortify, the Digital Europe initiative that promotes photonics education and digital skills across Europe.
‘’I’ve learned that science needs to be communicated, not only discovered. Sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation are as important as research itself. Encouraging young minds to explore photonics ensures that the field continues to evolve and make an impact.’’
Congratulations, Dr. Abbasi, on this remarkable achievement and valuable contribution to the B‑PHOT community!
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