
Illinois Optical Sensing and
Nanozyme Engineering Lab
About us
Welcome to ISONEL, where innovative thinking combines with cutting-edge technology. We are excited to present a ground-breaking combination of smart sensors: optical sensor (i.e., Near infrared spectroscopy – NIR, VIS-NIR hyper-spectral imaging), olfactive sensors (i.e, e-nose). Together with nanozymes technology that pushes the limits of both scientific research and practical applications.
With its capacity to record and examine a wide variety of spectrum data, hyperspectral imaging offers unmatched insights into the make-up, traits, and behavior of materials. We give academics, scientists, and business professionals the tools they need to access hidden data and make educated decisions with previously unheard-of precision.
With the help of our incorporation of nanozymes, all the research we do is enhanced and performance is elevated to a new level. The exceptional catalytic activity and durability of nanozymes, which are created at the nanoscale, enable a variety of chemical processes. This innovative technology creates opportunities for quick and effective procedures in industries including industrial manufacturing, environmental monitoring, and biomedicine.
We have incorporated smart sensors (i.e., RGB, NIR and olfactive sensors) into our systems to fully use the capabilities of these cutting-edge technology. These sophisticated sensors are capable of instantaneous parameter detection, measurement, and analysis. Smart sensors improve process management, optimize resource use, and enable predictive maintenance by continuously monitoring crucial variables and delivering helpful feedback. This ensures peak performance and efficiency across a variety of applications.
At our core, we are committed to pushing the limits of what is possible and are passionate about innovation. We work with top industry experts, draw on state of the art research, and apply the most recent technological developments to offer solutions that transform companies and facilitate scientific discovery.
We urge you to browse our website and learn about the transformational potential of hyper- spectral imaging, nanozymes, and smart sensors, whether you are an academic researcher, an industrial expert, or an inventor looking to address complicated problems. Let’s work together to influence how science and technology are explored in the future.
Our lab is located in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, within the Agricultural & Biological Engineering department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Discover ISONEL's integration of hyperspectral imaging, nanozymes, and smart sensors, revolutionizing research, industry, and science.

OUR LABS
Postdoc

Dr. Marcus Ferreira
As a food engineer and chemist, his pioneering research revolves around the cutting-edge utilization of smart sensors, including optical (RGB, NIR and NIR-HIS) and olfactive sensors (electronic nose), in conjunction with advanced technologies sush as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and chemometrics. His primary focus lies in developing and optimizing innovative applications of these sensor technologies on lab-made equipment, specifically tailored for enhacing agricultural practices and processes.

Dr. Khaliduzzaman
His groundbreaking work focuses on the transformation of the egg industry through the integration of advanced technologies. By utilizing non-destructive optical sensing, IoT, AI, big data, and cloud computing, he aims to develop smart systems for egg production, quality inspection, and grading. His research highlights the potential of these innovations to enhance automation, biosecurity, and animal welfare. A significant part of his work involves applying various CNN and transfer learning models for nondestructive chicken egg fertility detection, demonstrating their high accuracy and potential for industry-wide implementation.
PhD

Md Toukir Ahmed
Md Toukir Ahmed is a doctoral student in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include machine learning-based spectral data analysis, hyperspectral image analysis, image reconstruction, and spectroscopic software design.

Md Wadud Ahmed
His current research focuses on developing an efficient and accurate system for early detection of egg fertility, embryonic mortality, and prediction of chick embryo sex using hyperspectral imaging with chemometrics and machine learning. He has received a bachelor’s in Food Engineering from Bangladesh Agricultural University and Masters’s in Food Science, Technology and Business from KU Leuven.

Di Song
Di is a second-year PhD student, the research area is Crop Phenotype. The current contents are hyperspectral image processing, machine learning application, and deep learning studying. He has also interest in hardware development.

Dong Hoon Lee
Dong Hoon is a Ph.D. student in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at UIUC. As an enthusiastic biological engineer/researcher with 7+ years of research experience in nanozymes and their agricultural and biological applications.
Master

Qianyi Wu (Lisa)
Lisa is a first-year Phd student focusing on nanozyme incorporated electrochemical sensor and its applications in agricultural and food industries. She previously earned her bachelor’s degree in ABE and Chemistry from UIUC and was an undergraduate research assistant in Dr.Kamruzzaman’s lab working on NIR/hyper-spectroscopical detection of flour adulterations.

Ocean Monjur
Ocean Monjur is a master’s student at the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focus includes Computer Vision, Hyperspectral Image analysis and reconstruction.

Runyu Zheng
As a food engineer and chemist, his pioneering research revolves around the cutting-edge utilization of smart sensors, including optical (RGN, NIR, and NIR-HIS) and olfactive sensors (electronic nose), in conjunction with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and chemometrics. His primary focus lies in developing and optimizing innovative application of these sensor technologies on lab-made equipment, specifically tailored for enhancing agricultural practices and processes.
Undergraduate Researcher

Smital Pravin Lunawat
Smital Lunawat is a Master’s student in the Computer Science Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Her research interests lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision, with a particular focus on promoting fairness within AI systems. This focus reflects her commitment to responsible technological development that benefits society as a whole.

Belle Kuang
Xiuning (Belle) Kuang is a sophomore in the (iSchool) School of Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a laboratory assistant in Dr. Kamruzzaman’s group.

Sreezan Alam
I am Sreezan Alam, a rising senior in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My research focuses on hyperspectral imaging analysis, smart drying monitoring for food moisture content, and machine learning algorithms for moisture content pattern analysis and predictive modeling.
Alumni

Ayesha Syed
A PhD candidate from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, and a visiting scholar at IOSNEL under the supervision of Dr. Kamruzzaman, I immersed myself in the application of Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in analyzing sugarcane juice. This study combined NIR spectroscopy with machine learning techniques for the classification and prediction of Total Soluble Solids (TSS) in the stems.

Marciano Oliveira
During my visit to IOSNEL under the supervision of Dr. Kamruzzaman, as a PhD candidate from UNICAMP, Brazil, I applied Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for the prediction of impurities in cocoa shell powder. Additionally, I utilized Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) in beef analysis.
JUST PUBLISHED
RESEARCH
Professor Kamruzzaman’s Group
Research Interests
- Sustainability of bioprocessing technologies
- Optical sensing technologies (NIR, FT-IR spectroscopy and Hyperpectral imaging)
- Real-time quality assessment/control of bioproducts/bioprocesses
- Internet of Foods (IoF) technologies
Machine learning in agriculture
Mission Statement
Dr. Kamruzzaman applies optical sensing technologies such as spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging in tandem with chemometrics and machine learning to address the sustainability of bioprocessing technologies to promote the sustainable use of renewable resources. He also works on novel and innovative process routes for rapid and real-time characterization and quality assessment/control of bioproducts/bioprocesses to improve food security, quality, safety, and nutrition, while simultaneously accounting for environmental and socio-economic impacts.
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