Michelle Sander

Michelle Sander is an Associate Professor in the College of Engineering at Boston University, with primary appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering departments. She is a leading researcher in ultrafast lasers, photonics, and biomedical optics, recognized for her groundbreaking work in photothermal imaging and femtosecond-scale laser development. Dr. Sander is a 2025 Optica Fellow and has received prestigious awards such as the PECASE, NSF CAREER Award, and AFOSR Young Investigator Award.

Education:

• PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012

Dr. Sander’s research focuses on ultrafast, nonlinear, and quantum photonics, with applications in biomedical imaging, infrared spectroscopy, and real-time material characterization. Her lab develops femtosecond fiber lasers for label-free imaging and synapse-level neural modulation, enabling advancements in neurophotonics and biophysics.

Scientific Awards:

• PECASE
• NSF CAREER Award
• Dean’s Catalyst Award (3x)
• AFOSR Young Investigator Award
• Optica Fellow
• Senior Member in IEEE, Optica, and SPIE

Dr. Sander’s lab collaborates internationally, including institutions in Italy and Australia, and has secured grants like the NIH BRAIN Initiative’s $2.7M award. Her team emphasizes interdisciplinary innovation and mentorship, having trained over 30 undergraduate researchers.