Michael Kudenov

Biography
Dr. Kudenov completed his BS degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks, AK in 2005. Upon graduation, his personal interest in astronomy and photography lead him to obtain his PhD in Optical Sciences at The University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson, AZ in 2009. Following his PhD, he remained as an Assistant Research Professor at the UA until departing for North Carolina State University in 2012. Research performed at the UA included visible and infrared imaging polarimetry, spectroscopy, 3D profilometry, interferometry, active learning, and lens design.
His current research is focused on developing novel imaging systems, interferometers, detectors, and anisotropic materials related to polarization and spectral sensing, for wavelengths spanning ultraviolet through the thermal infrared. He is particularly interested in developing novel anisotropic materials and detector technologies that better enable snapshot systems, which are capable of maximizing the spatial, spectral, and/or polarimetric information contained within a single image. Applications include biomedical imaging, remote sensing, food safety, 3D Imaging, and atmospheric monitoring.
Dr. Kudenov has authored 13 journal articles, 15 conference proceedings, 2 patents (pending), 1 book contribution, and is in the process of writing a new book on instrumentation. He is currently interested in obtaining undergraduate and graduate student researchers.
Education
-
Ph.D.
2009
Optical Sciences
University of Arizona, Tucson -
Master's
2007
Optical Sciences
University of Arizona, Tucson -
Bachelor's
2005
Electrical Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Research Focus
- Physical Electronics, Photonics & Magnetics
Recent Publications
- Cephalopod-inspired snapshot multispectral sensor based on geometric phase lens and stacked organic photodetectors (2022)
- Drone-based polarization imaging for phenotyping peanut in response to leaf spot disease (2022)
- Multistatic fiber-based system for measuring the Mueller matrix bidirectional reflectance distribution function (2022)
- Practical spectral photography II: snapshot spectral imaging using linear retarders and microgrid polarization cameras (2022)
- StarNAV with a wide field-of-view optical sensor (2022)
- Bio-inspired spectropolarimetric sensor based on tandem organic photodetectors and multi-twist liquid crystals (2021)
- Computer vision approach to characterize size and shape phenotypes of horticultural crops using high-throughput imagery (2021)
- Computer vision for detecting field-evolved lepidopteran resistance to Bt maize (2021)
- Fieldable Mueller matrix imaging spectropolarimeter using a hybrid spatial and temporal modulation scheme (2021)
- Internal defect scanning of sweetpotatoes using interactance spectroscopy (2021)
Funded Research
- Telecentric Imaging System for High-Throughput Plate Assays
- DSFAS-AI: Agricultural DECision Intelligence moDEling System for huMan-AI collaboRative acTion Elicitation and impRovement (DECIDE-SMARTER)
- Multimodal Non-Destructive Microfluidic Sorting of Microbes for Elemental Analysis
- Imaging Polarimetry for Measuring Bidirectional Reflectance and Metabolites in Maize
- StarNAV: An Architecture for Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation by the Relativistic Perturbation of Starlight
- Improving Crop Productivity and Value Through Heterogeneous Data Integration, Analytics, and Decision Support Platforms
- Direct Correlation Spectrometer and Solar Simulation Testbed for Research on Space Situational Awareness and Optical Communications
- Strategic Design and Development of a Plant Bio-Mining System to Sustainably Harvest Rare Earth Elements from Domestic U.S. Sources.
- Evaluation of Novel Approaches for Early Detection of and Detailed Characterization of Maize Foliar Disease
- Planning Grant: Engineering Research Center for Rapid Innovations in SystEms Engineering and Agricultural Sustainability (RiseEnAg)
- Polymer Semiconductor Focal Volume Arrays for Advanced Multidimensional Imaging
- Development Of Remote Sensing Tools And Associated Analysis Methods For Crop Phenotypic Traits
- Snapshot Imaging laser Displacement Sensor for Hypervelocity Diagnostic Testing
- Geometric Phase Holograms and Related Films and Devices, Task Order: 2014-2450
- In Situ, Real-Time Monitoring of the Properties of Engine Part Coatings
Highlighted Awards
- University Faculty Scholars (2021)
Awards & Honors
- 2009 - College of Optical Science's Graduate Valedictorian
- 2006 - Arthur G. DeBell Memorial Award
- 2005 - University of Alaska Fairbanks ECE Achievement Award
- 2003 - University of Alaska Fairbanks IEEE Achievement Award
- 2001 - Alaska Airlines Travel Award
Recent News

Iqbal Husain and Michael Kudenov Receive 2022 ALCOA Foundation Engineering Research Achievement Award
Posted on April 28, 2022 | Filed Under: Awards and News
Congratulations to Iqbal Husain and Michael Kudenov for receiving the 2022 ALCOA Foundation Engineering Research Achievement Award!

Guvenc and Kudenov named University Faculty Scholars
Posted on January 29, 2021 | Filed Under: Faculty
Congratulations to Ismail Guvenc and Michael Kudenov on being named University Faculty Scholars this year, recognizing their outstanding achievements in research and teaching.

Using Leaf Fungi to Improve Crop Resilience
Posted on July 1, 2020 | Filed Under: Research
An interdisciplinary collaboration across three colleges at NC State are working together to identify and analyze beneficial fungi in the core crops of North Carolina.
Media Mentions

Researchers Devise New Tool to Measure Polarization of Light
June 24, 2016
NC State researchers have developed a new tool for detecting and measuring the polarization of light based on a single spatial sampling of the light, rather than the multiple samples required by previous technologies. Michael Kudenov, et al., engineering, featured.