Prof. Rohit Bhargava is the Founder Professor of Bioengineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He received a B. Tech. dual degree (Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science) from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi and his PhD from Case Western Reserve University (Macromolecular Science and Engineering) under Prof. Jack L. Koenig, developing IR imaging techniques applied to polymer composites. Following his PhD, Prof. Bhargava was a Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health with Dr. Ira W. Levin developing IR imaging tools for molecular digital pathology. Prof. Bhargava joined University of Illinois in 2005.

Prof. Bhargava research in optical theory and numerical methods formed the theoretical foundation of IR imaging leading to new instrumentation and technologies. He has opened the field of using high performance IR imaging for pathology and led the first large-scale validation of spectroscopic imaging for prostate cancer pathology, which is often cited as the gold standard protocol in the field. His current research interests include developing IR chemical imaging, high quality tissue classification using artificial intelligence methods including deep learning, nanoscale IR chemical imaging, and applications in cancer pathology. He has authored and co-authored more than 200 publications and book chapters.

Prof. Bhargava’s research has been recognized by several national and international awards: Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award (2022), Ellis R. Lippincott Award, Optica, Coblentz Society, and Society for Applied Spectroscopy (2021), Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2020), Beckman Vision and Spirit Award (2017), Agilent Thought Leader Award (2016), Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2015), Fellow, Society for Applied Spectroscopy (2015), William F. Meggers Award, Society for Applied Spectroscopy (2014), Craver Award (2013), and FACSS Innovation Award (2012).