Dr. Mark A. Anastasio is a Donald Biggar Willett Professor and Head of the Department of Bioengineering at UIUC. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, SPIE, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE).  Dr. Anastasio’s research broadly addresses computational image science, tomographic image reconstruction, and the use of machine learning for applications in imaging science. He has made a wide range of contributions related to the computational aspects of wave-based imaging modalities that include optoacoustic/photoacoustic computed tomography and ultrasound computed tomography (UST). Dr. Anastasio has also been actively engaged in computational imaging science research related to the objective assessment of image quality and optimization of imaging system performance by use of modern machine learning methods.  For example, in recent years, his team has pioneered the use of deep learning for approximating optimal task-based performance bounds for imaging technologies and has established methods for objectively assessing deep learning methods for image formation.   Earlier in his career, he was the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to develop image reconstruction methods for X-ray phase-contrast tomography. He is a core member of the NIH-funded P41 Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics and leads the computational imaging research in that center. Dr. Anastasio’s direct mentoring experience includes 27 previous or current PhD students, 12 post-doctoral researchers, and 2 research faculty.  His administrative accomplishments include serving as the primary architect and Founding Director of the PhD Program in Imaging Science at Washington University in St. Louis and overseeing the development of several new educational programs at UIUC that include two new undergraduate majors (neural engineering and a CS+BioE hybrid degree with computer science) and a new MS degree in biomedical image computing.