News
Professor Cheng Appointed Associate Director to Lead New Chemical Imaging Initiative
The Photonics Center has launched a new Chemical Imaging Initiative (CII) to advance cell-scale chemical understanding through cutting-edge imaging technologies. Chemical imaging, capable of visualizing biomolecules in living cells with high speed and sensitivity, has already driven breakthroughs in cancer research, neurodegeneration, and environmental science.
Building on the Center’s existing strengths across CAS, ENG, and MED, the initiative aims to unite students and faculty to tackle major scientific challenges and attract external support through major grants and training programs.
As part of CII, the Photonics Center will provide modest initial funds for workshops and collaborations, administrative support for planning and proposal development, and a series of academic activities including symposia, summer schools, student fellowships, and distinguished lectures.
Prof. Ji-Xin Cheng, Moustakas Chair Professor in Optoelectronics and Photonics, has been appointed Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives to lead the research strategy for this effort.
Read more on the website.
Professor Cheng Delivers Inaugural CBMI Distinguished Lecture at Nanjing University
On August 25, 2025, Professor Ji-Xin Cheng delivered the inaugural CBMI (Chemical and Biomedical Imaging) Distinguished Lecture at Nanjing University. His lecture marked the beginning of this prestigious series, highlighting cutting-edge advances in imaging science and inspiring future collaboration in the field.
Celebration of Chinmayee and Carolyn for BME PhD graduation
On September 18, 2025, the Cheng Group gathered to celebrate the PhD graduation of Chinmayee and Carolyn. To honor their achievements, a special T-shirt featuring the results they are most proud of was gifted to them, with every group member adding their signature and heartfelt wishes. We are thrilled to celebrate this important milestone and look forward to the impact they will make as they begin the next chapter of their careers. Congratulations!
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The Cheng Group hosted a distinguished lecture by Nobel Laureate Professor Steve Chu from Stanford University
On September 18, 2025, the Cheng Group had the great honor of hosting Nobel Laureate Professor Steven Chu from Stanford University for a distinguished lecture. Prof. Chu, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to laser cooling and optical trapping of atoms, shared his insights with faculty, students, and researchers at Boston University.
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Carolyn Marar successfully defended her PhD thesis
7.21.2025 Carolyn Marar successfully defended her PhD thesis!
Congratulations to Carolyn!
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Chinmayee Prabhu Dessai successfully defended her PhD thesis
7.11.2025 Chinmayee Prabhu Dessai successfully defended her PhD thesis!
Congratulations to Chinmayee!
2025 Chemical Imaging Workshop Successfully Held at Boston University
2025 chemical imaging workshop at Boston University is well done! For day one, we had 6 preeminent speakers and 133 attendees from Caltech, Janelia, Wisconsin, Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, NYU, Emory, Dublin, and Stockholm, and Boston University. The conference started with an opening remark by President Gilliam. Pictures show the day2 hands-on DIY training and the AI driven data analysis session.
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Celebrating Bond-Selective Imaging: Nature Methods May 2025 Cover Story
Nature Methods has published a special focus issue on Bond-Selective Imaging in its May 2025 edition, highlighting the impact and evolution of this powerful technique. The issue features two historical commentaries on the invention of coherent Raman scattering microscopy and vibrational photothermal microscopy by Sunney Xie and Ji-Xin Cheng, respectively.
Read the full article here:
Coherent Raman Imaging and Vibrational Photothermal Microscopy.
Our lab’s newest paper is accepted by Physics Review Letters
Dr. Jiaze Yin's paper Mid-infrared energy deposition spectroscopy has been officially accepted by Phyiscs Review Letters, congratulations to Jiaze and all the authors!
Go to this link for more info:
https://journals.aps.org/prl/accepted/77077Y34Je815e8c168e8a936d11dece76143341f
Photonics Center received $500,000 to establish a scholarship
On Jan 2025, Boston University Photonics Center received $500,000 from SPIE to establish a scholarship in Photonics.
Left: SPIE president. Middle: Ji-Xin Cheng (Faculty Director of SPIE/Optica/IEEE student chapter), Right: Tom Bifano (Photonics Center Director).
