Dr. Isaac August

Dr. Isaac Y. August is a distinguished Israeli scientist, educator, and academic leader specializing in computational optics, hyperspectral imaging, computational spectroscopy, optical sensing, machine vision, and advanced photonic systems. He currently serves as Head of the Department of Physics, Incoming Head of the Department of Medical Imaging, and Head of the Center for Advanced Research in Computational Optics at the Sami Shamoon College of Engineering (SCE), Israel. Over the course of his career, Dr. August has established himself as a leading researcher in computational imaging and optical sensing technologies, combining fundamental scientific innovation with practical engineering applications in medicine, industry, remote sensing, and defense-related technologies.
Dr. August received his B.Sc. in Theoretical Physics from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, followed by M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electro-Optical Engineering, both awarded with highest honors (Summa Cum Laude). His doctoral research pioneered new approaches to hyperspectral imaging based on optical compressive sensing, laying the foundation for a research program that has continued to expand and evolve over the last decade. He subsequently completed postdoctoral research in advanced optical materials and photonic technologies and undertook a research internship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), further strengthening his international scientific profile.
His scientific contributions span several interconnected research domains, including compressive hyperspectral imaging, computational spectroscopy, liquid-crystal-based optical devices, three-dimensional imaging, optical coherence tomography, single-photon sensing, machine learning for optical systems, biomedical imaging, and remote sensing. Among his most influential achievements is the development of novel compressive spectral imaging architectures that enable the acquisition of rich spectral information using compact and computationally efficient optical systems. These contributions have helped advance the field of computational imaging and have been widely recognized by the international optics and photonics community.
Dr. August has authored and co-authored dozens of scientific publications in leading international journals, including Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio), Laser & Photonics Reviews, Optics Letters, Optics Express, Applied Optics, Journal of Biomedical Optics, Sensors, Materials, and Remote Sensing. His work has attracted substantial international attention, reflected in more than 1,350 scholarly citations and an H-index of 16. Several of his publications have become highly cited references in the fields of hyperspectral imaging and optical compressive sensing, demonstrating both scientific impact and long-term relevance.
His research has also generated significant technological innovation. He is an inventor of a granted United States patent for tunable thin-layer devices in compressive sensing spectroscopy, representing an important translation of academic research into practical optical technology. In recent years, he has led and participated in multiple externally funded research projects involving collaborations with academic institutions, government agencies, and industrial partners. These projects include the development of advanced spectral imaging systems for medical diagnostics, optical systems for environmental monitoring, machine-learning-assisted imaging technologies, and hyperspectral methods for evaluating the mechanical properties of geological materials.
rigorous scientific scholarship with exceptional dedication to student learning and academic mentorship.
The combination of internationally recognized research achievements, technological innovation, academic leadership, successful supervision of graduate students, extensive professional service, and sustained excellence in teaching places Dr. Isaac Y. August among the leading academic figures in the fields of computational optics and imaging sciences in Israel. His work continues to advance both scientific knowledge and technological capabilities while contributing significantly to higher education, interdisciplinary research, and the development of future generations of scientists and engineers.