Junjie Yao Named SPIE Fellow

Junjie Yao, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University, has been elevated to the rank of fellow by his peers at SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Yao was recognized for his research on photoacoustic imaging, which uses a combination of light and sound to create biomedical images.

SPIE fellows are honored for their technical achievements and their service to the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers and the larger optics and photonics community. Yao is one of this year’s 47 inductees, which represent high-profile leaders in academia, industry, and government. Nearly 1,800 members have been elevated to SPIE fellows since the society’s founding in 1955.

Yao is a pioneer in photoacoustic imaging (PAI), which is a method of imaging that uses short laser pulses and ultrasound waves to create detailed and colorful biomedical images of the biological tissues. Unlike other imaging technologies, like X-ray, CT scans, or MRI, PAT allows researchers to quickly and accurately image everything from a single cell to an entire body. Besides improved scalability, photoacoustic imaging allows researchers to gather functional and molecular information about tissue and cellular targets.

Since joining Duke in 2016, Yao has developed and applied PAI technologies to study important biomedical questions with clinical insights, like the real-time development of a placenta, and track deep-brain activity during stroke. His numerous collaborations have resulted in impressive work including the creation of a specialized ink that can harden when exposed to focused ultrasound waves to create biologically compatible structures, and the discovery of how glassfrogs hide red blood cells in their liver to become transparent.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized as a Fellow of SPIE,” said Junjie Yao. “This award is not only a testament to the transformative potential of photoacoustic imaging but also to the dedication of my collaborators and students who have contributed immensely to this journey. I am excited to continue advancing this technology and exploring its impact on both fundamental science and clinical applications.”