Two Best Student Paper Awards for B-PHOT researchers at SPIE Photonics Europe 2024

At the prestigious SPIE Photonics Europe 2024 conference held in Strasbourg, France, two PhD researchers from B-PHOT were awarded the 'Best Student Paper' accolades for their exceptional contributions. Sara Abbasi and Mehrdad Lofti Choobbari both were selected for their presentations at the international conference.

The conference chairs of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, have selected PhD researchers Sara Abbasi and Mehrdad Lofti Choobbari as the winning presentations in their specific conferences at SPIE Photonics Europe 2024. As the Best Paper Award winner, they will receive a Certificate, one year of SPIE Student Membership, and a cash prize.

Mehrdad Lotfi Choobbari received the award for his work entitled "Towards Online Monitoring of Water Pollutants: An Optofluidic Chip for Characterizing Microplastics in Water". His research, in collaboration with his PhD colleague Yousef Pourvais, presented at the "Optics and Photonics for Advanced Dimensional Metrology III" conference, introduces an innovative optofluidic chip designed to monitor and analyze microplastics in water in real-time. Choobbari's work promises significant advancements in environmental monitoring and water safety. The research was conducted in the framework of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Doctoral Network project 'MONPLAS'.

Choobbari expressed his excitement and gratitude: "I'm thrilled to share that I've won the Best Student Paper Award! Representing B-PHOT, this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. I'm incredibly grateful for the support and guidance from my promoter, Prof. Heidi Ottevaere, and colleagues. This achievement motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of photonics research. Thank you, SPIE, for this honor!"

Sara Abbasi was also honored for her innovative study entitled "Advancing Hemoglobinopathy Screening with Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning", presented at the "Biomedical Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Imaging III" conference. Abbasi's research combines advanced Raman spectroscopy techniques with machine learning algorithms to enhance the screening and diagnosis of diabetes, offering significant potential improvements in medical diagnostics.

Abbasi enthusiastically adds: "Attending the SPIE Photonics Europe 2024 conference was a remarkable experience, where I saw a lot of excellent presentations and impressive works, including those by my B-PHOT colleagues. I am deeply honored to be recognized and I am immensely grateful to my supervisor, Prof. Heidi Ottevaere, and the European Union's Horizon EIC Pathfinder funded VortexLC project for their support and funding."

The SPIE Photonics Europe 2024 conference highlighted the substantial contributions of B-PHOT researchers, with numerous presentations showcasing their cutting-edge research in various fields of photonics. The success of Sara Abbasi and Mehrdad Lotfi Choobbari underscores the significant impact of VUB's photonics research on the global stage.

Prof. Heidi Ottevaere, who guides both award-winning projects, expressed her pride in the achievements of her students: "Sara and Mehrdad's accomplishments are a testament to the innovative spirit and dedication of our team at B-PHOT. Their success at SPIE Photonics Europe 2024 reflects the high standard of research conducted at VUB and our commitment to advancing the field of photonics."

The SPIE Photonics Europe conference, an important event in the photonics community, continues to be a platform where researchers and professionals from around the world gather to share their latest findings and technological advancements. The recognition of B-PHOT researchers at this event highlights the importance of their contributions to addressing global challenges through photonics research.