Rate My Professor Irina Kabakova

Professor Irina Kabakova is a Professor in Optical Physics in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences within the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She earned her PhD in Physics from Lomonosov Moscow State University, specializing in nonlinear optics, high-Q cavities, and all-optical switching. Prior to her current role, she held research positions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, developing expertise in optical physics, light-matter interactions, and advanced imaging techniques. At UTS, Prof. Kabakova leads the Brillouin Imaging Group, where she established Australia’s first Brillouin microscopy and spectroscopy facility. This state-of-the-art platform enables label-free, non-invasive, high-resolution 3D mapping of viscoelastic properties in cells and tissues, facilitating advancements in biomedical diagnostics for diseases such as cancer and fibrosis.

Prof. Kabakova’s research interests encompass Brillouin spectroscopy via inelastic light scattering by phonons, micro-mechanical imaging of biological materials, quantum mid-infrared spectroscopy using entangled photons, frequency comb spectroscopy for high-speed microscopy, and Brillouin fibre probes for endoscopic applications. She teaches advanced courses in Optics and Biomedical Diagnostics and serves as Associate Head of School (Education and Students). Her scholarly impact is reflected in Google Scholar metrics exceeding 2,170 citations and an h-index of 26. Notable publications include “Brillouin imaging for studies of micromechanics in biology and materials science” (2021), “Consensus statement on Brillouin light scattering microscopy” (2025), “Brillouin microscopy in cancer research: a review” (2025), and “Principal component analysis in application to Brillouin microscopy data” (2024). She has secured significant funding as Chief Investigator, including ARC Discovery Project DP190101973 ($335,000, 2019), ARC Linkage Infrastructure LE240100010, and participation in ARC Centres of Excellence such as COMBS and Quantum Biotechnology. Awards include the Australian and New Zealand Optical Society (ANZOS) Award for Mid-Career Scientists (2022) and the UTS Mid-Career Researcher Award (2022). Prof. Kabakova also leads the Academic Women in Science (AWiS) network at UTS since 2021, advocating for gender equity in STEM fields.