Dr. Aydogan Ozcan is a distinguished leader in computational imaging and diagnostic technologies with significant contributions to global health solutions. He currently serves as the Chancellor's Professor and the Volgenau Chair for Engineering Innovation at UCLA, an HHMI Professor with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Associate Director of the California NanoSystems Institute. After earning his Ph.D. from Stanford University's Electrical Engineering Department in 2005, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford before becoming a Research Faculty Member at Harvard Medical School's Wellman Center for Photomedicine in 2006. He joined UCLA in 2007 where he established the Bio- and Nano-Photonics Laboratory spanning both Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering Departments.
Dr. Ozcan's pioneering research focuses on using computation to create innovative optical microscopy, sensing, and diagnostic technologies that address global health challenges through cost-effective and compact solutions. His work has led to significant breakthroughs including the development of AI-based digital tissue staining and telepathology, where biopsy samples were imaged, virtually stained, and diagnosed across different geographical locations. With over 1,200 peer-reviewed publications in major scientific journals and conferences, more than 85 issued patents, and numerous pending applications, his contributions have fundamentally transformed approaches to computational biophotonics and imaging technologies. His research has particularly advanced deep learning applications in optical computational imaging and sensing, moving optical designs from physically driven to data-driven methodologies.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Ozcan has founded multiple companies including Lucendi Inc., Holomic/Cellmic LLC (named a Technology Pioneer by The World Economic Forum in 2015), and Pictor Labs to translate his laboratory innovations into practical health solutions. He has given more than 100 plenary/keynote talks and 500+ invited presentations worldwide, significantly influencing the field of computational diagnostics. His interdisciplinary undergraduate research and training program actively promotes academic diversity in STEM while facilitating innovation in telemedicine and global health applications. As an elected Member of the National Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Dr. Ozcan continues to lead transformative work at the intersection of engineering, computation, and healthcare with global impact.
