The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is deeply saddened by the loss of Professor Kostadinka Bizheva, fondly known as Dida, whose pioneering work in biomedical optics advanced both science and clinical practice.
Professor Bizheva was cross-appointed in our department as well as the School of Optometry and Vision Science, with her primary appointment in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. For many years, she shared her passion for teaching through ECE 105: Classical Mechanics, inspiring and guiding thousands of undergraduate students in electrical and computer engineering.
Professor Bizheva founded the Biomedical Optics Research Group and was a trailblazer in the development of optoretinography, a non-invasive technique for measuring physiological and metabolic changes in the retina’s photoreceptors. Her remarkable contributions to the field were recognized earlier this year when she was named a 2025 Optica Fellow for her lifetime achievements in optics and imaging.
We honor Professor Bizheva’s extraordinary legacy as a teacher, researcher, and mentor. Her brilliance, generosity, and dedication will be profoundly missed by our ECE community.
Read Remembering Professor Kostadinka Bizheva ("Dida") for a full tribute to Dida.