Danka Sampson

Dr. Danka Sampson is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the UWA Medical School and Senior Research Fellow at the Lions Eye Institute, Perth. She holds a PhD in Biophysics from Nicolaus Copernicus University (2014). Her research focuses on developing non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging tools and standardized workflows for ophthalmic data analysis. She collaborates across disciplines, including computer science, clinical medicine, and biology, advancing ophthalmology and neurology. Sampson is a Senior Member of SPIE and Optica, and a 2017 Optica Ambassador. She actively promotes STEM inclusion, leading over 30 outreach programs and co-authoring the children’s book *Jesse Explores Vision Impairment*.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Biophysics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń (2014)

Research Interests: Optical imaging technologies, retinal and vascular imaging, AI-driven medical data analysis, and promoting diversity in STEM. Her work addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and education.

Awards:

• Western Australia 2024 Young Tall Poppy
• SPIE Diversity Award (2023)
• Optica Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Recognition (2022)

Grants & Projects:

• Leading the *Harmonisation of WA OCT-angiography datasets* (Diabetes Research Foundation of WA, 2024–2025)
• Prior projects on retinal sensitivity and macular disease imaging (Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia, 2015–2016)

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with the Lions Eye Institute and multidisciplinary teams in Perth, focusing on translational biomedical research and medical device development.