Valery V. Tuchin is a Professor and Head of Optics and Biophotonics at Saratov State University (National Research University of Russia) and several other universities. He is a Fellow of the Society and SPIE and has been awarded Honored Science Worker of the Russia, Honored Professor of Saratov University, SPIE Educator Award, FiDiPro, Chime Bell Prize of Hubei Province, Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award, and the Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award.

Tuchin has pioneered the studies on tissue optics and tissue optical clearing, including quantification of the optical properties of tissues. Laser speckle imaging is another strong line of his research of blood and lymph flow of internal organs. He is also one of the leading experts in optical glucose sensing, microstructured fiber sensing, OCT, nanobiophotonics, photodynamic and interstitial photothermal therapy, theranostics, controllable drug and nanoparticle delivery with many first-class publications in these fields.