Tatiana Novikova: The 2020 SPIE G.G. Stokes Award in Optical Polarization

Tatiana Novikova, a research scientist at the Laboratory of Physics of Interfaces and Thin Films, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris in France, is a significant contributor to the field of polarization science. In 2015, she received an HDR (Habilitation à diriger des recherches) on Mueller polarimetry of structured and random media from the University Paris-Sud in Orsay. Her current research focuses on computational optics of polarized light, Mueller polarimetry, and relevant applications in biomedical engineering and microelectronics and the interaction of polarized electromagnetic waves with complex substances. Her particular interest lies in her research's medical applications, especially in terms of transmission through tissue.

Novikova is known to the optical polarization community for her strong research and publications record, her mentoring of both graduate and post-graduate students, and for her productive international collaborations. An SPIE member, in 2016 Novikova contributed to a special section guest editorial on the topic of "Polarized Light for Biomedical Applications" in the SPIE Journal of Biomedical Optics.

"I have followed Dr. Novikova's work closely since we share a research focus on polarization imaging, notes Meredith K. Kupinski, a research professor at the University of Arizona's Wyant College of Optical Sciences. "Her recent work is focused on three areas: generalization of Monte Carlo techniques for the modeling of Mueller matrix images of anisotropic biological tissues, polarization-based metrology for microelectronics, and Mueller polarimetry for cervical cancer screening."

But, continues Kupinski, Novikova also has a strong reputation when it comes to professional collaborations. "She and I are currently working together on an award, ‘Binary Classification of Polarimetric Images for Cancer Detection,' funded by Paris-Saclay University. Our collaboration began in 2014 at a Lorentz Center workshop in the Netherlands for polarization researchers. I can tell you from personal and professional experience that she always demonstrates high standards in her work, in her students' work, and is an active and vocal member of the research community. I am already looking forward to future collaborations with Dr. Novikova."

Read more about Tatiana Novikova and the SPIE G.G. Stokes Award in Optical Polarization.