Scattering Light, Showered with Praise: Professor Cheng Receives 2026 Charles Mann Award.
Professor Cheng Receives 2026 Charles Mann Award.
by A.J. Kleber
Biomedical imaging powerhouse Professor Ji-Xin Cheng has earned considerable recognition for his pioneering research and entrepreneurial dedication to translating his innovations into practical applications and devices. Among the variety of optoelectronic methodologies he employs, he has made notable advancements in Raman spectroscopy, a technique which leverages the scattering of light off different types of molecules for detection and analysis. The Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS) is the most recent professional organization to take notice, honoring Professor Cheng with the 2026 Charles Mann Award for Applied Raman Spectroscopy. The award, presented annually at SciX, was named for the late Professor Charles Mann of Florida State University, himself a significant contributor to the development of analytical Raman spectroscopy.
More than meeting the award’s criteria of “demonstrat[ing] advancement(s)” in the field, Professor Cheng has tirelessly pursued the development of coherent Raman microscopy in a variety of forms to enable high-speed, non-invasive chemical imaging which doesn’t require the use of fluorescent dyes. Over the course of more than 180 peer-reviewed articles, Cheng and his research group have developed entire new classes of imaging tools, such as coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman photothermal microscopy, generated new cancer treatment approaches, and brought cutting-edge diagnostic devices to market. Cheng products like the Ultraview and miRage microscopes are now in use around the world.
Professor Ji-Xin Cheng is the Theodore Moustakas Distinguished Professor in Photonics and Optoelectronics at Boston University, with dual appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. Recently appointed a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), Cheng holds over 30 patents and is the co-founder of Vibronix Inc and the Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp. A fellow of AIMBE and Optica, his research has been supported by millions of dollars in funding from government agencies and industry,