Virendra (Vini) N. Mahajan

Adjunct Professor, Optical Sciences

Contact Information

  • Telephone:
    310-336-1783
  • Email:
    virendra.n.mahajan@aero.org
  • Mailing Address:
    Dr. Virendra N. Mahajan
    The Aerospace Corporation
    M.S. M5/672
    2350 East El Segundo Boulevard
    El Segundo, California  90245-4691

Education

  • PhD, University of Arizona

  • MS, University of Oregon

Employment

  • The Aerospace Corporation:  Distinguished Scientist, 1983-date.

  • University of Arizona:  College of Optical Sciences; Adjunct Professor, 2004-date.

  • National institute for Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics: Distinguished Visiting Professor, Fall 2007.

  • National Central university: Distinguished Visiting Professor, Fall 2006.

  • University of Central Florida: College of Optics and Photonics; Distinguished Visiting Professor, Fall 2005.

  • University of Southern California: Electrical Engineering-Electrophysics Department; Adjunct Professor, 1984-1989.

  • The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory: Section Chief and Associate Division Leader, 1974-1983.

Professional Affiliations, Activities, and Honors

  • Winner of SPIE’s 2006 A. E. Conrady award.

  • Fellow of the Optical Society of America, SPIE, and the Optical Society of India.

  • Topical Editor of Optics Letters in the area of Optical Imaging and Diffraction (2002–2005)

  • Associate Editor, Optical Society of America Handbook of Optics (2005-Present)

  • Member of Fellows Committee of Optical Society of America (2007onwards)

  • Member of SPIE Education Committee (1991–1994), Publications Committee (1999–2001), and Fellows Committee (2002–2005).

  • Member of the OSA’s Holonyak Jr. Award Committee (2004–2005)

  • Chairman (1984–1986) and Vice Chairman (1983–1984) of the Astronomical, Aeronautical and Space Optics technical group of the Optical Society of America.

  • Invited seminars at the International Photonics Center, Cochin University of Science and Technology (2003, 2005); Centro de Investigaciones en Optica, Leon, Mexico (2005); INAOE (National Institute of Astronomy, Optics, and Electronics), Tonantzintla, Mexico (2005, 2006).

  • Visiting Professor in the Physics Department, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India, Spring 1991.

  • Short course instructor on optical imaging, aberrations, fabrication tolerances, and image quality at the OSA and SPIE meetings.

  • Organizer and short course instructor in optics to Air Force and Aerospace employees in 1985, 1987, and 1991.

  • Organizer and chair of a symposium on “Remote sensing optical systems for astronomy, space and aircraft applications” at the 1985 annual meeting of the Optical Society of America.

  • Organizer and chair of a symposium on “Phased array imaging from ground and space” at the 1986 annual meeting of the Optical Society of America.

  • Visiting lecturer on “Optical Imaging” at the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) in December 1981.

  • Reviewer for JOSA, Applied Optics, Optics Letters, Optical Engineering, Optics Communications, Journal of Pure and Applied Optics, and Journal of Optics