School of Physics & Astronomy

Victor Ochoa-Gutierrez has been awarded a 2022 Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, for his potential contributions to the field of optics, photonics or related field.

Ochoa-Gutierrez is a University of Glasgow PhD student researching new optical techniques for healthcare monitoring such as retinal imaging to monitor degenerative diseases progression using AI approaches. His optical solutions encourage inclusivity in biomedical devices like pulse oximeters, devices widely used during the pandemic to assess COVID infection yet based on technology prone to overstate oxygen measurements in colored skin. OchoaGutierrez works in a multi-disciplinary supervisory team including Professors Jonathan M. Cooper, Andrew R. Harvey and Julien Reboud at the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom). He is currently a member of the 2022 SPIE Career Lab Editorial Board. “I’m grateful to SPIE for providing this invaluable opportunity for my professional development,” he said. “And I am incredibly thankful to my family, mentors, and friends for all of their support. My ambition is to create optical technologies for improved and inclusive healthcare tools."

In 2022, the Society is awarding $293,000 in education scholarships to 78 outstanding SPIE Student Members, based on their potential contribution to optics and photonics, or a related discipline. Award-winning applicants were evaluated, selected and approved by the SPIE Scholarship Committee, Chaired by SPIE volunteer Kate Medicus.

Through 2021, SPIE has distributed over $6 million dollars in individual scholarships. This ambitious effort reflects the Society's commitment to education and to the next generation of optical scientists and engineers around the world.

To view other 2022 press releases as they become available go to the 2022 Scholarship Winners page or learn more about SPIE scholarships on spie.org.

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. 

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First published: 21 June 2022