Ihor Smal

Ihor Smal is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University. He has held previous positions at Erasmus MC (2009-2018) and TU Delft (2019-2020). His research bridges statistical image processing, smart microscopy, and explainable AI for biological motion analysis, with applications in automated real-time imaging systems.

Education:

• M.Sc. in Physics and Electrical Engineering, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (1999, cum laude)
• Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng), Eindhoven University of Technology (2005)
• PhD in Biomedical Imaging, Erasmus University/MC (2009)

His work focuses on developing AI-driven solutions for motion registration, particle tracking, and image understanding in biological systems. He leads the NWO IMAGINE! program's Tech Work Package 2, aiming to automate imaging experiments using explainable AI.

The 15 most recent publications highlight his contributions to deep learning for CT segmentation, particle tracking, diffusive state modeling, and real-time imaging optimization. Key subfields include neural networks, biomedical signal processing, and automated microscopy.

Scientific Awards:

• VENI grant
• Erasmus MC Fellowship
• NWO BBoL grant

Students:

• Vincent Hellebrekers
• Daan te Rietmole

His lab at Utrecht University, accessible via www.smal.ws, collaborates with institutions like Erasmus MC and TU Delft, leveraging facilities such as the Utrecht Biology Imaging Center.