Shengxi Huang, associate professor in Rice University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was elected this month as a fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, in recognition of her contributions to the field and service to its scientific community.
Election as a SPIE Fellow honors members for their work in multidisciplinary fields involving optics, photonics and imaging. Huang joins a select group of fewer than 1,950 fellows among SPIE’s more than 25,000 members worldwide.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes from a community of researchers and engineers working to advance optics and photonics,” Huang said. “I am grateful to my colleagues, collaborators and students who have contributed to our work, and I look forward to continuing to achieve new advancements in the field.”
Recognition by the optics and photonics community
Huang is one of 59 members elected to SPIE’s 2026 class of fellows.
SPIE Fellows are selected each year from nominations submitted by the organization’s members and fellows. Candidates are evaluated on criteria including excellence in publications or product development, service on SPIE committees or editorial boards and efforts to promote science education or influence public policy.
New fellows are acknowledged during a SPIE symposium of their choice throughout the year.
“I am honored to join researchers whose work has helped shape optics and photonics and expand what light-based technologies can accomplish,” Huang said. “The recognition also encourages me to continue pursuing research that can contribute to the scientific community and open new possibilities for discovery.”
A global scientific society
Founded in 1955, SPIE brings together engineers, scientists, students and business professionals to advance light-based science and technology.
The society connects the community through conferences, exhibitions, publications and professional development opportunities. Its SPIE Digital Library includes conference proceedings, books and peer-reviewed journals.
Over the past five years, SPIE has invested more than $26 million in the international optics community through scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts and public policy development.
For Huang, the fellowship recognizes her contributions while offering another avenue to support the broader scientific community.
“Scientific progress is built through collaboration, curiosity and the exchange of ideas,” she said. “I hope this recognition gives me another opportunity to contribute to that community, support the next generation of researchers and pursue discoveries that move the field forward.”