Ashok Samuel

Ashok Samuel is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He previously held an Assistant Professor (Research) position at Waseda University, Tokyo, from 2017 to 2023. His research focuses on biomedical imaging, particularly in biophotonics, cancer, live-cell imaging, and molecular imaging of tumor microenvironments. Samuel earned his Ph.D. in Raman Spectroscopy, Polymer Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (2006-2012).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Raman Spectroscopy, Polymer Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (2006-2012)

Research Interests: Samuel's work integrates optical imaging techniques with biomedical applications, including the development of advanced Raman imaging technologies for studying tumor phenotypes and live-cell dynamics. His lab explores interdisciplinary solutions such as 3D tumor spheroid models to study drug responses in cancer. Recent studies include the application of quantitative phase gradient imaging for real-time monitoring of cell morphology changes and the role of amorphous calcium phosphate in aortic valve calcification.

Publications: His recent works include studies on single-shot quantitative phase gradient imaging for cell morphology dynamics (2024), osteopontin's role in aortic valve calcification (2024), and advancements in Raman spectroscopy for intracellular imaging (2022-2023).

Awards: He received the Early Career Researcher Award from the Society for Applied Spectroscopy in 2013.

Grants and Funding: He has secured grants such as the CCIL Seed Grant to combat breast cancer metastasis. His research is supported by institutions like the National Institutes of Health.

Labs and Teams: As part of the Department of Bioengineering at UIUC, Samuel collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, including the Cancer Center at Illinois, focusing on label-free chemical imaging and biomedical applications.