![Associate Professor Maitreyee Roy](https://api.research.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/images/profile/Maitreyee%20Roy%20SMALL%20%28002%29.jpg)
Associate Professor Maitreyee Roy
Dr Roy was awarded a PhD in Physical Optics from School of Physics at the University of Sydney. Her PhD research was focused on the fundamental principle of “Geometric Phase” in optics and its application for 3D imaging for biological and non-biological samples. One of her major contributions in this area was to demonstrate achromatic nature of geometric phase, which has opened up new insights into broadband interferometry with applications ranging from biological systems (Optical Coherence Tomography), electronics (Semiconductor industry) to astronomy (Stellar Interferometry).
Prior to joining UNSW in 2015, she worked in multidisciplinary research projects in government and academic institutions including the School of Physics and Australian Key Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis at the University of Sydney and National Measurement Institute, Australia (NMIA). While at NMIA as a Research Scientist, she conducted and led various Optical Standards and Nano-metrology projects focusing on establishing and maintaining the capabilities underpinning the delivery of measurement services for industry, government and to the research community.
She has also worked in several international research labs: Charles Fabry Laboratory, University d’ Orsay, France; Department of Applied Physics, Osaka University; National Measurement & Standards Laboratory, NRC, Canada; Department of Optics, National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronica, Mexico and Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Tsukuba, Japan.
Dr Roy holds numerous memberships with professional societies nationally and internationally, notably a member of Optical Society of Australia, a Fellow of Optical Society of America, Member of the International Society for Optical Engineering, a member of Optical Society of India, a member of Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society and an Australian Standards Committee member for eye and face protection standards.
RESEARCH
- Visualizing tear film using Quantum dots
- Automated detection of ocular diseases with Artificial Intelligence.
- 3D reconstruction and visualisation of ocular disease model from OCT images
- The effect of blue-blocking lenses on visual and non-visual functions.
- Development of novel instrumentation and imaging technology for rapid, sensitive, non-contact, non-invasive methods for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging for biomedical applications which incorporate the Full-Field optical coherence microscopy based on liquid crystal geometric phase-shifting technology coupled with fluorescence microscopy.
TEACHING & OUTREACH
Courses I teach and coordinate
- VISN1111 - Geometrical and Physical Optics
- VISN1221 - Visual Optics
- OPTM 3201- Ocular Imaging & Applied Vision Science
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Fellow of the Optical Society of America
- Member of the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society Inc
- Member of the Australian Optical Society
- Member of the Metrological Society Australia
- Member of the Optical Society of India
- Member of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)
- Australian Standards Committee, Eye & Face Protection
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
- NMI World Metrology Day Outstanding Achievement Awards, 2013- NETs Team: For an outstandingly successful program delivering world-class measurement standards and services and for active and effective engagement with a wide range of stakeholders to focus and apply these capabilities
- NMI World Metrology Day Outstanding Achievement Awards, 2011- Optical Standards Team: Excellent work in satisfying optical measurement requirements of a major strategic client, Department of Defence
- ProSciTech Trans-Tasman Award,2006, For significant research using microscopy or microanalysis, especially work for lasting value to people/ or the environment, Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society
- Australian Academy of Science: France-Australia Science Innovation Collaboration Program, 2007
- Denison travel fellowship, School of Physics, University of Sydney,2006
- JSPS invitation fellowship (Japan Society for Promotion of Science), 2004
- Australian Academy of Science travel fellowship, 2003, “Scientific visits to the United States of America, Canada and Mexico” scheme
- AIST Fellow (Agency of Industrial Science and Technology), Japan, 1999
- Daimler-Benz Award, 1999- Best overall papers by the collaborative team (Japanese) presented at 31st International Symposium on Automotive Technology & Automation, Germany
Research Groups
- Optical Imaging and Visualization
- Vision Loss and Healthy Ageing
- Ocular Surface Research (Inc. Dry Eye and Contact Lenses)
- Automated detection of ocular diseases with Artificial Intelligence
- Blue light blocking lenses, effects on visual and non-visual systems
- Functionalised nanoparticles as contrast agents for bio-imaging
- Optical coherence microscopy for ultrahigh-resolution 3D imaging
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Investigation of Blue light blocking lenses effect on visual and non-visual systems
Visible light, in particular, blue light, plays an ambiguous role in health & vision. Blue light may damage retinae, but it is also essential for sleep regulation. “Blue-blocking” lenses are ̶being marketed as protection against blue light without affecting sleep. While the need to provide eye protection against ultraviolet is well established, the need to protect blue light is not proved for anything other than direct viewing of the sun and some artificial sources such as welding arcs.
Control of the blue hazard could interact with the regulation of melatonin and sleep patterns.
This proposed project will help to build an understanding of how light, and the manipulation of lens coatings, may impact on sleep, colour perception and other indicators of visual comfort and health.
Automated detection of ocular diseases with Artificial Intelligence
Currently, artificial intelligence (AI), especially Machine learning (ML), techniques are revolutionising healthcare for its potential in image-based diagnosis, disease-prognostication, and risk-assessment. In ophthalmology, AI is also becoming common for screening, image-interpretation, early diagnosis and guiding treatment of eye conditions. This research aims are to - devise and evaluate new clinically meaningful metrics for analysing ocular images, implement novel machine and deep-learning algorithms for automatic segmentation, disease detection and progression-classification of eye diseases using both fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images from both healthy subjects and patients undergoing treatment for eye disease.
Visualising Tear Film Lipid Layer Using Quantum Dots
Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals that can provide a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in ophthalmology for effective treatment of ocular diseases. Tear film evaporation is one of the key factors responsible for dry eyes that can lead to visual disturbances and contact lens in tolerance. Tear film evaporation depends on the structure of the lipid layer. Understanding the fundamental of tear dynamics has importance for developing treatment modalities for ocular surface diseases.
The thrust of this research project is to develop a novel instrumentation and imaging technique to visualise tear film layers in vivo using silicon QDS as they are non-toxic and emit discrete wavelengths of light which are very bright and stable.
3D reconstruction and visualization of ocular disease model from OCT images with virtual reality
3D reconstruction of medical images helps in image interpretation with visualising depth and understanding the underlying pathological process in disease. Additionally, the modern technology of 3D visualisation with virtual or augmented reality makes the treatment and diagnosis process very faster and more comfortable even in a surgical setting for all clinicians. It also helps the patient to understand the state of his/her disease very evidently. In this project, the 2D slices of OCT images of glaucoma patients will be collected and reconstructed with volume rendering process in different 3D software and afterwards, the 3D model will visualize with the virtual reality devices. Moreover, the project will also comprise some 3D animation and roaming in the visualisation environment to make it more realistic for the understanding of disease for diagnosis purpose. One of the goals of this project is to measure its impact on patient health literacy, to determine if this method can be used to enhance patient understanding of ocular disease processes.
Multi-modal optical coherence imaging for early detection of eye diseases
Visual impairment and loss due to eye diseases are common problems in older Australians. Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma are the leading eye disease causes of blindness. Early detection of these eye diseases can prevent permanent vision loss. The thrust of the project is to develop a coherence-domain microscopy system based on our previously published geometric phase liquid-crystal technology with multi-modalities features, including polarisation and fluorescence imaging techniques.
The novelty of the system lies in two folds. By using a novel geometric phase-shifting technique based on liquid crystal, technology will improve the image acquisition and simplifies the optical setup by avoiding the necessity for using the instrumentationally complex, lateral point scanning scheme. Secondly, by coupling two different imaging techniques such as polarisation and fluorescence imaging techniques will provide morphology, anatomical and physiological properties, eg. birefringence of ocular tissues. This will facilitate and enhance early diagnosis of ocular pathologies leading to more effective treatments and preventing vision loss.
- The Computational Imaging Lab/Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (CIL/BAIR) Lab, A/Prof Laura Waller, USA, Lead investigator, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Co-Director, Optics and Radiometry Laboratory (ORLAB), SOVS, UNSW Sydney
- Prof. Kiyofumi Matsuda, Emeritus Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Optical Information Processing and Systems Engineering Lab, The Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries, Japan
- Centre for Eye Health (CFEH), UNSW Sydney
My Research Supervision
Three postgraduate and 12 undergraduate students