Two OIST professors elected as 2026 SPIE fellows

As of January 2026, Professor Bill Munro and Professor Síle Nic Chormaic have been elected as SPIE fellows. As SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, fellows represent the highest level of professional recognition within this field. A cohort of 40 fellows were elected in 2026, with each individual demonstrating exceptional technical achievements and leadership. 

Both Prof. Munro and Prof. Nic Chormaic are members of the OIST Center for Quantum Technologies (OCQT), a research hub dedicated to realizing quantum technologies with real world impact and deepening our understanding and manipulation of the quantum world. Prof. Munro is head of OIST’s Quantum Engineering and Design Unit, with research focused on bridging the gap between theory and real-world implementation in the design and engineering of future quantum technologies. His recent publications cover the promise of superradiance in quantum sensing and communication as well as the practical applications of boson sampling for energy-efficient quantum machine learning. 

Prof. Nic Chormaic leads OIST’s Light-Matter Interactions for Quantum Technologies Unit. Her interests span atomic and optical physics, with particular focus on the understanding and application of neutral atoms for quantum technologies, whispering gallery spherical resonators, and the interaction of light with different small systems. Recent work includes the application of X-ray microcomputed tomography to non-invasively explore 3D chaotic microcavities, opening a new window to study chaos, nonlinear optics and quantum photonics. 

“Being involved with SPIE has been immensely rewarding for me. From participation in SPIE governance committees, supporting the OIST Student Chapter, and helping with conference organization both in Japan and worldwide, I’ve been able to expand my research network and give back to the community. I’m honored to have been recognized in this way,” says Prof. Nic Chormaic. 

Echoing these sentiments, Prof. Munro noted the long-standing role SPIE has played in his career: “SPIE has been a home for my research for almost a quarter of a century.”