Anand Asundi: The 2024 SPIE Chandra S. Vikram Award in Optical Metrology
Anand Asundi, the founder and managing director of d’Optron — which offers 3D-imaging and metrology solutions — was one of the first scientists to recognize the importance and advantages of digital technologies for optical metrology and inspection. He has more than 40 years of experience in the fields of optical engineering, photomechanics, optical non-destructive testing, fiber-optic sensors, quantitative phase imaging, digital holography, digital-image processing, and automated visual inspection. Over his career, he has held various positions at Virginia Tech, the University of Hong Kong, and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU). In addition, he was the founding director of the Centre for Optical and Laser Engineering at NTU, and the founding chairman of the Optics and Photonics Society of Singapore.
Asundi, an SPIE Fellow for nearly three decades, was on the SPIE Board of Directors from 2006-2008. He has been presenting and publishing at SPIE conferences since 1991, as well as chairing several conferences. From 1999 to 2002, he was the chairman of the SPIE Singapore Chapter (now the Optics and Photonics Society of Singapore). He has chaired the SPIE Publications Committee and was a participating member of the SPIE Scholarship Committee. He has also served on the editorial board of the SPIE membership magazine, SPIE Professional (now Photonics Focus).
“Anand is a valued friend and a brilliant scientist whom I have known, including his work and contributions, for many years,” notes MetroLaser Director of Research James D. Trolinger. “His many contributions to the field of optics and holography, including digital holography, qualify him well for this award. Anand, clearly, has had and continues to maintain an astonishing record of achievements and contributions to the optics community in general, and specifically in the current digital holography field. He has produced an amazing number of papers, presentations, and invited talks focused on holography, organized and led many meetings, graduated many students, and provided help to many professional societies and individuals, and he continues to do so. As a previous chairman of the Vikram Award Committee, I have reviewed the qualifications of many candidates, and Anand Asundi’s qualifications are among the most impressive I have ever seen. Of all the great scientists I know who work in the field of holography, I cannot think of a single one whom I would consider a better candidate for the Chandra Vikram Award this year. Chandra Vikram was a close friend of mine, and I believe he, too, would endorse Anand as a winner.”
Meet the other 2024 SPIE Society Award recipients.
Read more about Anand Asundi and the SPIE Chandra S. Vikram Award in Optical Metrology.
