2025 South Australia Scientist of the Year Prof. Kishan Dholakia has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science for 2026, recognising his international leadership in photonics and decades of contribution to the science of light.
President of the Academy Prof. Chennupati Jagadish AC said this year’s cohort demonstrated both the depth of Australian science and the path from discovery to impact.
“This cohort includes scientists whose work is rewriting the textbooks and has changed the world.”
Prof. Dholakia, Director of the Centre of Light for Life at the University of Adelaide and Professor at the University of St Andrews, is widely regarded as a global pioneer in biophotonics and optical physics. His election places him among Australia’s most distinguished scientists working across fields ranging from fundamental physics to biomedical research.
His work spans from foundational advances in optical trapping and precision measurement through to real-world biomedical applications, including imaging, diagnostics and therapeutics. He has built a research career focused on using light-based technologies to better understand biological processes at molecular, cellular and tissue scales.
Prof. Dholakia said in a statement he was “deeply honoured” by the recognition, describing it as a shared achievement with collaborators and research teams across the world.
“This recognition is shared with the many team members and collaborators around the world who have supported and contributed to my work throughout my career. Their dedication has been central to this achievement.”
At the University of St Andrews, he played a key role in establishing the internationally recognised Centre of Biophotonics, which has attracted more than £10 million in funding and brought together researchers across multiple disciplines to advance optical imaging and biomedical science.
He has also led major developments in Australia through the Centre of Light for Life at the University of Adelaide, helping position South Australia as an emerging hub for photonics research and innovation. The centre now brings together more than 20 researchers working across interdisciplinary projects.
Over his career, Prof. Dholakia has supervised more than 55 PhD students and contributed to the training of over 100 postdoctoral researchers, while maintaining a strong focus on research-led work.
He has held a Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Fellowship and was appointed full professor at the University of St Andrews in 2003 at the age of 36. He currently dedicates around 75 per cent of his time to research, alongside teaching and international leadership roles.
His research has earned numerous international honours, including the SPIE Dennis Gabor Award, the Institute of Physics Thomas Young Medal, the Optica R.W. Wood Prize, and the Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award.
The Australian Academy of Science said this year’s cohort of Fellows reflects both the strength of Australian science and its global impact, highlighting researchers whose work is translating discovery into real-world benefit.
Prof. Dholakia’s election underscores his longstanding contribution to advancing photonics and building international research networks spanning Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and the United States.
The Academy of Science Fellowship is one of Australia’s highest scientific honours, awarded to researchers elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to knowledge and discovery.
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