Ashok Samuel, a research professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has joined the Beckman Institute.

Ashok Samuel

Samuel earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, working in the fields of spectroscopy, physical chemistry and polymer chemistry. His postdoctoral research focused on Raman spectroscopy.

Samuel's current research integrates chemistry, physics, biology and engineering, with a focus on advanced bioimaging techniques like Raman spectral imaging, to study cellular biochemical processes. He aims to connect fundamental research with applications in tissue engineering, cancer biology and regenerative medicine, with the goal of contributing to advancements in medical technology and healthcare (e.g., diagnostics and health monitoring).

At the Beckman Institute, Samuel joins the Computational Imaging Working Group. He plans to use the institute's bioimaging facilities to take label-free, high-resolution images of cells, organoids, and tissues to understand subcellular biochemical information, the molecular details of the tumor microenvironment and cell differentiation.

"I look forward to utilizing the bioimaging facilities and collaborating within a multidisciplinary research environment. ... An opportunity to work closely with the members of the Computational Imaging [Working] Group will be very beneficial for advancing my research," he said.