Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
Chester F. Carlson Center for
Imaging Science
The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science is dedicated to pushing the frontiers of imaging in all its forms and uses. Through education leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in imaging science, we produce the next generation of educators and researchers who develop and deploy imaging systems that answer fundamental scientific questions, monitor and protect our environment, help keep our nation secure, and aid medical researchers in their quest to conquer disease.
From how light is generated to how the world is perceived, imaging science addresses questions about every aspect of systems that are used to create, perceive, analyze, and optimize images. Imaging science is both truly interdisciplinary in its content and multi-disciplinary in its applications.
1st
Imaging science program in the U.S. and currently the only formal imaging science program in the nation
20%
of institute research funds flow through the Center
$5.16M
Research expenditures the Center had for fiscal year 2016-17
Latest News
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April 11, 2022
![image from the Hubble Space Telescope of the Butterfly Nebula.]()
Five mind-blowing Hubble Space Telescope images from the past decade
The New York Post features a Hubble Space Telescope image created by an RIT team led by Joel Kastner, professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science.
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March 23, 2022
![student walking backwards giving a tour of the RIT campus.]()
Record applicant pool signals demographic shifts for RIT
More women are applying to RIT than ever before, especially in STEM programs. Applications from women were up 13 percent across the board from last year. The surge in women applicants in STEM is helping an overall record year for applications.
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March 22, 2022
![image of the butterfly nebula in greens and reds.]()
Featured Image: A Cosmic Butterfly Spreads Its Wings
AAS NOVA features a Hubble Space Telescope image created by an RIT team led by Joel Kastner, professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science.
Research
The Laboratory for Multiwavelength Astrophysics fosters the utilization and advancement of cutting-edge techniques in multiwavelength astrophysics by RIT faculty, research staff, and students, so as to improve human understanding of the origin and fate of the universe and its constituents.
Research Active Faculty:
Faculty working on cultural heritage imaging develop novel imaging systems and algorithms to analyze historical artifacts around the world. Research is primarily focused on multi- and hyperspectral imaging, but also includes imaging modalities such as reflectance transformation imaging and X-ray fluorescence. An active area of research is also the development of novel 3D visualization tools for scholars to interact with the digital artifacts after image collection and processing.
Research Active Faculty:
Research in this area focuses on the development of novel imaging systems, primarily for astronomical applications. Significant research has been conducted on the use of Digital Micro-mirror Devices in multi-object spectrometers for astronomical imaging systems. Additional work has focused on random apertures for extremely large space-based telescopes and vortex coronagraph imaging systems. Additional work in optical systems includes research into the use of ultrafast lasers for the development of novel photonic detectors and other surface polishing applications.
Research Active Faculty:
The Multidisciplinary Vision Research Laboratory combines expertise in eye tracking instrumentation, cognitive science knowledge of the human visual system, and computer vision to understand how the eye-brain system works, as well as how to leverage that knowledge into novel computer vision systems. The research is supported by the PerForM (Perception For Movement) Lab with both full motion capture and multiple AR/VR system capabilities. Additionally, active research into computer vision and deep learning approaches for applications from 3D scene understanding to active learning frameworks are ongoing.
Research Active Faculty:
The Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory (DIRS) is world-renown for its expertise in remote sensing systems, algorithms, and applications. Their work encompasses novel system design and calibration for NASA Earth-observing satellites to the development of imaging systems to fly on small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for precision agriculture. Additionally, the DIRSIG software developed and maintained by the DIRS laboratory is the industry standard to simulate remotely sensed imagery and is used for both system engineering trade studies as well as a source of training data for deep learning algorithmic frameworks.
Research Active Faculty:
Research Faculty:
There is active work within the center in nanoimaging through the use of electron microscopy. The NanoImaging Lab is home to four electron microscopes (2 SEMs & 2 TEMs) and focuses on two major research themes. First, using imaging science to improve the performance of electron microscopes computationally. This includes the point spread function determination, electron optics modeling, image restoration, and deconvolution research. Second, in this laboratory, we use the tools of imaging science to characterize materials at the micro-and nanoscale, using electron microscopy.
Research Active Faculty:
The center is the home to the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory devoted to solving real-world problems with magnetic resonance. The laboratory has several pieces of specialized magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging instrumentation on the RIT campus. Among these are a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer with micro-imaging accessory, a low-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (LFEPR) spectrometer, an Overhauser magnetometer with a base station, a three-axis magnetometer, and a radio frequency imaging coil test bridge.
Research Active Faculty:
We conduct applied optics research in the use of optics from the smallest scales to the largest. This includes the Optical Vortex Laboratory and the Advanced Optical Fabrication, Instrumentation, and Metrology Laboratory (AOFIM Lab).
Research Active Faculty:
Featured Work
Providing Discoverability and Accessibility of Historical Documents to Museums and Libraries
David Messinger
Students in the Museum Studies degree program are working alongside research scientists from the College of Science Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science to create, test, and iterate a low...
RIT students discover hidden 15th-century text on medieval manuscripts
RIT students used an imaging system they developed as freshmen to reveal hidden text by using ultraviolet-fluorescence imaging. Now their work is going viral.
Imaging Science Club Hosts First-ever Imaging Processing Hackathon
Carl Salvaggio
The Imaging Science Club hosted hack.tiff, RIT’s first-ever imaging processing hackathon, on Jan. 25 and 26.
Featured Profiles
RIT Imaging Science: One Major, Countless Careers
Students graduating from the RIT Imaging Science program describe the unique major, research opportunities available and diverse careers after graduation.
Calibrating Apple Displays for Optimal Color Performance
Fu Jiang ’21 (color science)
While pursuing his MS in imaging science, Fu Jiang took a color science course which led to a Ph.D. in Color Science. Now he works at Apple ensuring displays have the best optical color performance.
Using Artificial Intelligence for Conservation and Sustainability
Elizabeth Bondi ’16 (imaging science)
Elizabeth Bondi explored a range of technical and research skills during her years as an imaging science student at RIT. She used those skills to develop an algorithm that aided in preventing poaching...
Undergraduate Programs
Many students choose the Bachelor of Science in imaging science because of its multidisciplinary nature. It is particularly attractive to students who enjoy science, engineering, computing, and math and are searching for careers that apply their unique interests. The program also applies science and engineering concepts to the study of photography and digital media, which have a long tradition at RIT.
Imaging science offers an ideal mix of disciplines while promising a well-rounded and highly marketable degree. Imaging scientists do research in optics, computer vision, machine learning, remote sensing, nano-imaging, biomedical imaging, and historical document imaging.
A unique and valuable part of the imaging science program is its Freshman Imaging Experience.
Graduate Programs
The Master of Science and Ph.D. imaging science programs emphasize a systems approach to the study of imaging science and prepares you for careers in research, product development, and management in the imaging industry. Through extensive, hands-on research, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet available academic, industrial, and governmental careers.
