The Applied Optics Group develops advanced optical technologies for imaging and sensing, with applications across healthcare, science, and industry.
We are part of Physics and Astronomy in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics at the University of Kent. Based in the University of Kent’s Photonics Centre on the Canterbury Campus, we have a track-record of innovation in biomedical optics, particularly in optical coherence tomography (OCT), a totally non-invasive, high-resolution medical imaging technique.
Research
There is a long history of research in biomedical optics in the AOG; the group was the first to acquire en face OCT images from the retina and we developed the first combined optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscope (OCT/SLO). Our current research projects include advanced OCT imaging systems, endoscopic imaging, holographic microscopy and photoacoustic imaging.
Technology developed within the AOG has been protected by 17 patents and reported in over 150 journal papers and conference presentations. We have been supported by over £10M in funding in the last few years, from sources including the UKRI, NIHR, the EU, the Royal Society and industry. We have excellent facilities for optical development work, and we collaborate extensively with clinicians and industry around the world to translate our work.
Joining Us
Join us in Canterbury and help develop the next generation of imaging technologies. For MSc and PhD projects and postdoc vacancies, please see our joining page. We can also support fellowship applications for researchers who have ambitious research plans relevant to our work. We can host a small number of undergraduate interns over the summer vacation.
