Her award-winning article, “Interferometric imaging of amplitude and phase of spatial biphoton states,” was published in the prestigious journal Nature Photonics. In it, she explores a highly specialized area of quantum optics, but its implications stretch into some of the most promising applications of quantum technology. At the heart of her research is a deep curiosity about light —specifically photons, the particles of light that form the building blocks of optical quantum technologies.
“We study entangled photons,” Nazanin explains. “These are particles that are linked in such a way that measuring one gives you information about the other. That property is powerful for things like quantum computing, cryptography and sensing.”
Nazanin and her collaborators developed a technique using ultra-fast cameras and tools that create interference in light waves to rapidly and efficiently characterize these entangled photons. “Before you can use these particles for any application, you need to make sure they’re behaving the way you expect. Characterizing them is the first essential step,” she says.
But her work didn’t stop there. Building on this foundation, Nazanin has since been working on quantum phase imaging, a direction that could transform biological and medical imaging. “We’re using entangled photons to study samples like biological cells, which often live in water and require low-light imaging,” she explains. “Our method lets us shine less light on the sample and still get more information. It’s more accurate and less damaging to living tissue.”
Behind the groundbreaking science lies a story of perseverance. “The most difficult part of the research was processing noisy, low-resolution images,” she recalls. “It took time and patience to fine-tune the algorithms and extract the data we needed. You must be willing to fail over and over before it works.”
Receiving the Xanadu Graduate Prize affirmed that her work is not only rigorous but also meaningful. “As a researcher, you often wonder, ‘Does this matter? Will it help someone?’ Being recognized tells me that it does matter, and it motivates me to keep going,” says Nazanin.
Nazanin’s journey has been shaped by mentors across continents. Key figures include a high school physics teacher who sparked her passion, professors in Iran who believed in her potential, and her PhD supervisor, Professor Ebrahim Karimi, whose support made it possible for her to study in Canada and at uOttawa specifically. “Without him, I wouldn’t be here,” she says.
Beyond her research, Nazanin is a passionate educator and science communicator. She works as a teaching assistant and regularly visits schools to engage young students in hands-on experiments. “Teaching helps me become a better scientist. If I can explain my work to a child, then I truly understand it,” she adds.
Looking to the future, Nazanin is keeping her options open on a career in academia or industry. “The path to becoming a professor is tough and competitive. I just want to keep learning and be ready for all possibilities,” she says.
Her advice to young scientists, especially women from under-represented backgrounds, is simple but profound: “Don’t reject yourself before someone else does. Be curious. Work hard. You don’t need to be a genius to be a good researcher. You just need to believe in your potential.”
With her brilliance and belief in herself, Nazanin continues to light the way forward.
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