Dr. Murugkar is an expert in developing highly accurate, rapid, and cost-effective laser-based, novel optical imaging instrumentation and quantitative analysis methods. Sangeeta established the Laboratory for Laser-Assisted Medical Physics and Engineering (LLAMPE) in the Department of Physics after joining Carleton University in 2013. Following her undergraduate degree in India, Sangeeta completed her PhD in Physics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studying the fundamental physics of semiconductor superlattices using Raman spectroscopy. She developed her interest for real-world applications of photonics as a post-doctoral fellow at McMaster University for two years and a Research Scientist in the telecommunications industry giant JDS Uniphase in Ottawa for five years. Sangeeta discovered her passion for Biophotonics in 2006 while working as a Research Associate to Prof. Hanan Anis at the University of Ottawa for five years. She enjoyed the opportunity to work with Prof. Robert Boyd, an international expert in nonlinear optics from 2011-2013.  

Dr. Murugkar’s LLAMPE group develops techniques based on Raman spectroscopy and nonlinear optical microscopy including coherent Raman imaging to visualize biological response that is label-free i.e. without the use of external contrast agents. In combination with machine learning techniques, this enables her team to effectively identify, quantify and differentiate between the response of cells and tissue exposed to different types of external stress such as disease such as cancer, and ionizing radiation exposure e.g in radiation therapy and radiation protection. The ultimate goal of her research is to translate these optical techniques to the clinical and diagnostic lab setting.