Professor Zengbo (James ) Wang

Professor in Imaging and Laser Micromachining

 [email protected]

 +44 1248 382696

 0000-0002-3282-1052

Overview

Prof. Zengbo Wang received BSc and MSc degrees in physics from Xiamen University, P.R. China, and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.

He is currently a professor at Bangor University and was a visiting professor at Northeastern University (Boston, USA, 2022-2023). He was awarded 2022 Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship to explore cutting-edge research on AI/deep-learning assisted  microsphere nanoscopy and on-demand photonic design. Before joining Bangor University in 2012, he was a lecturer at the University of Manchester between 2009 and 2012.

In 2025, Prof. Wang received the prestigious APEX Award—jointly supported by the Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Leverhulme Trust —for his interdisciplinary project “Listen to the Cell Breathe”, which investigates viral infections using a hybrid nano-vibration sensing and super-resolution imaging technique,  integrated through AI-enhanced fusion and analysis. It is the first APEX Award project led by a Principal Investigator based at a Welsh University since the scheme’s launch in 2017.

His research expertise lies in the fields of advanced AI and machine learning, laser-based manufacturing, nanophotonics, metamaterials, solar energy, fiber sensors and  with special focuses on super-resolution microscopy, imaging, sensing, laser micro and nano processing, and AI for business and industry. He has strong publication and citation records. He is an elected senior member of Optica (2017) and is known as the leading pioneer of microsphere and nanosphere-based superlens technologies. Please visit his team website at https://laserphotonics.uk/

Additional Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Office: Dean Street Building, Bangor University, Room 228

Tel:       +44(0) 1248 382696 

Fax:      +44(0) 1248 362686 

Web:     https://laserphotonics.uk

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=5MBSTZ8AAAAJ&hl=en

Research Interests

1) AI and Deep Learning in Photonics Design, Imaging, and Manufacturing

Prof. Wang’s current research is strongly focused on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into science and engineering, particularly within the field of photonics. As part of a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship, he leads a programme dedicated to developing AI-driven super-resolution imaging technologies. His team is actively working at the intersection of AI, optics, and advanced manufacturing to improve resolution, speed, and precision in imaging and fabrication.

They work with a wide range of AI models—including but not limited to Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), and Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN)—to support applications such as AI-assisted photonic inverse design, super-resolution imaging for biological and nanoscale systems, and laser-based nano-patterning and process control. The team also explores the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) in scientific and engineering contexts, including the use of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and fine-tuning for domain-specific tasks.

In addition to academic research, the group supports industry by helping businesses adopt cutting-edge AI technologies to develop new products, processes, and services.

2) Superlens and Super-resolution Microscopy

Prof. Wang and his team are internationally recognised for pioneering microsphere- and nanoparticle-based dielectric superlens technologies. Notable developments include the ‘microsphere superlens’ and ‘microsphere nanoscope’ (2011, Nature Communications), ‘spider silk superlens’ (2016, Nano Letters), and ‘nanoparticle superlens’ (2016, Science Advances). These breakthroughs have received widespread media attention, featuring in outlets such as the BBC, New York Times, Daily Mail, Independent, ABC Australia, and China Xinhua, and were highlighted in RCUK’s “50 Big Ideas for the Future.” In 2023, this body of work was featured in the seminal article “Roadmap on Label-Free Super-resolution Imaging” in Laser Photonics Reviews.

Prof. Wang was a finalist for Bangor University’s 2016 Research Excellence Award and Dissertation/Thesis Supervisor of the Year. He was also selected as a member of the 2015 Welsh Crucible cohort—a group of emerging research leaders in Wales—and previously received the Most Outstanding R&D Staff Merit Award in 2005 for his contributions to laser cleaning at DSI Singapore.

The latest nanoparticle superlens developed by his team is among the most powerful in the field, producing sharper and higher-quality images of nanoscale features, including 50 nm polystyrene nanoparticles, 45 nm gaps in semiconductor chips, and 90–100 nm adenoviruses.

3) Laser-based Manufacturing and Processing

Prof. Wang’s group conducts research into a wide spectrum of laser-based processes—including cutting, welding, drilling, texturing, marking, cleaning, and polishing—alongside emerging applications such as laser-enhanced seed germination and yield improvement. The laboratory hosts a comprehensive range of laser systems, including nanosecond fiber and UV lasers, a high-power, high-repetition-rate femtosecond laser (Jasper 30W, four wavelengths), and CO₂ lasers.

Supporting instrumentation includes advanced 3D laser scanning microscopes (Olympus OLS5000 and DSX1000) and an environmental scanning electron microscope (E-SEM) with integrated electron-beam lithography (EBL) for precise nano-manufacturing and characterisation.

This research is supported by the pan-Wales “Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE)” programme, which collaborates with Welsh industry across sectors such as electronics, aerospace, automotive, and energy. Key partners include Qioptiq, Tata Steel, Welsh Slate, and Transcend Packaging. The team has developed a unique capability in direct laser nano-marking using specially engineered superlenses, achieving sub-100 nm resolution.

4) Fiber-based Optical and Quantum Sensing

The team also explores cutting-edge sensing technologies, including:

• Novel surface-functionalised FBG/LPG sensors
• Ultrasensitive cell vibration detection at the picometer scale
• Optical fiber-based trapping, imaging, and sensing
• Quantum sensing platforms

These capabilities support fundamental research as well as emerging biomedical and environmental applications.

5) Shift-free Anti-laser Metamaterial Filters

Prof. Wang’s group is among the few research teams to have successfully developed metamaterial-based, wide-angle, shift-free narrowband filters designed for anti-laser-strike protection. Ongoing work extends this innovation to underwater optical communication systems.

6) Solar Cell Research

Research efforts also extend to advanced photonic and laser technologies for high-efficiency solar cells, including:

• Novel laser-trapped nanostructures and metasurfaces for light management
• Solar-driven nanoparticle synthesis and water splitting
• Applications of nanophotonics and plasmonics in perovskite solar cells
• Precision laser manufacturing techniques to improve solar cell performance

Postgraduate Project Opportunities

I welcome PhD candidates to join my team to work in the following areas: (1) AI/Deep Learning for photonics and imaging.(2) Laser nano-manufacturing.(3) Optical Neural Networks.(4) Nanophotonics and metasurfaces.(5) Super-resolution science and technology.(6) Optical fiber sensors.(7) Renewable energy (Solar, etc.).

Projects

• Listen to the Cell Breathe: Investigating Viral Infection in real-time with Nano-Vibration Detection and Super-Resolution Imaging01/10/2025 – 15/10/2027 (Not started)
• Advanced Thermal Management for Space Electronics (ATMS)01/07/2025 – 15/01/2027 (Active)
• Feasibility Study and Preparation for Horizon Europe Bid: Laser-Assisted Carbon Nano-Onion Cancer Treatment and Monitoring01/07/2025 – 15/07/2026 (Active)
• Enhancing Research Capacity in North Wales with Environmental SEM and Integrated EBL01/01/2023 – 30/09/2024 (Finished)
• Deep learning assisted microsphere nanoscopy and on-demand photonic design27/07/2022 – 05/11/2024 (Finished)
• KESS II MRes with Lightfuture Ltd- BUK221601/02/2021 – 31/03/2024 (Finished)
• A novel bionanoscopy platform based on integration of optical superlens array and scanning probe microscopy01/12/2020 – 31/03/2025 (Finished)
• 80761 BU262 Development of robust large-area manufacturing process for optical metamaterial applications01/08/2020 – 30/10/2023 (Finished)
• Advancing advanced manufacturing and photonics research in Wales with cutting edge 3D measuring laser confocal microscope01/08/2019 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)
• Nanoparticle-based superlens and optical nanoscope20/03/2019 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)
• 81400 The Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE)01/08/2018 – 31/07/2024 (Finished)
• 81400 The Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE)01/08/2018 – 31/12/2021 (Finished)
• Combat Counterfeiting with Invisible Photonic Printing (CCIPP)01/01/2018 – 30/09/2020 (Finished)
• KESS II PhD project with Qioptiq Ltd BUK28901/10/2016 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)
• Scanning microsphere nanoscopy for live cell/virus imaging01/12/2015 – 21/03/2017 (Finished)
• 3D Printing of Functional Photonic Metamaterial Devices01/01/2015 – 30/06/2018 (Finished)
• On-chip Microfludic Nanoscope for Super-resolution Imaging and Analysis01/10/2014 – 20/01/2018 (Finished)

linux:

claude mcp add chrome-mcp ‘{

“type”: “http”,

“url”: “http://127.0.0.1:12306/mcp“

}’

On windows:

claude mcp add chrome-mcp “{\”type\”:\”http\”,\”url\”:\”http://127.0.0.1:<PORT>/mcp\”}”

ssh -D 0.0.0.0:$SOCKS_PORT -q -C -N $USER@$SERVER

Python 3.10 pytorch sucessful installation on windows 2019 server the ‘ViT’ conda enviroment on December 21 2024, note using teamviewer into server to installation, Desktopanywhere causes SSL error:

Step 1: conda create –name ViT python=3.10

Step 2: pip install torch==1.11.0+cu113 torchvision==0.12.0+cu113 torchaudio -f https://download.pytorch.org/whl/torch_stable.html (this requires python3.10)

Step 3: pip install “numpy<2.0”

https://apps.bangor.ac.uk/web/print/unit/requests/poster/

license.dat

license.paid

both same content below:

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https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-ukBest universities in the UK 2023

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2023 profile

UK rank 2023	World University Rank 2023	University	City/town
1	1	University of Oxford	Oxford
2	=3	University of Cambridge	Cambridge
3	10	Imperial College London	London
4	22	UCL	London
5	29	University of Edinburgh	Edinburgh
6	35	King’s College London	London
7	37	London School of Economics and Political Science	London
8	=54	University of Manchester	Manchester
9	76	University of Bristol	Bristol
10	=82	University of Glasgow	Glasgow
11	=104	University of Warwick	Warwick
=12	=108	University of Birmingham	Birmingham
=12	=108	University of Southampton	Southampton
14	=114	University of Sheffield	Sheffield
15	122	Lancaster University	Lancaster
16	=124	Queen Mary University of London	London
17	=128	University of Leeds	Leeds
18	130	University of Nottingham	Nottingham
19	=137	University of Exeter	Exeter
20	=139	Newcastle University	Newcastle
21	=139	University of York	York
22	=163	University of Leicester	Leicester
23	=176	University of Liverpool	Liverpool
24	=187	Cardiff University	Cardiff
25	=192	University of Aberdeen	Aberdeen
=26	=198	Durham University	Durham
=26	=198	Queen’s University Belfast	Belfast
=26	=198	University of Reading	Reading
=29	201–250	University of Dundee	Dundee
=29	201–250	University of East Anglia	Norwich
=29	201–250	St George’s, University of London	London
=29	201–250	University of St Andrews	St Andrews
=29	201–250	University of Surrey	Guildford
=29	201–250	University of Sussex	Brighton
=35	251–300	University of Bath	Bath
=35	251–300	Bournemouth University	Bournemouth
=35	251–300	Brighton and Sussex Medical School	Brighton
=35	251–300	Swansea University	Swansea
=39	301–350	Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)	East Anglia
=39	301–350	University of Essex	Essex
=41	351–400	Birkbeck, University of London	London
=41	351–400	City, University of London	London
=41	351–400	University of Kent	Kent
=41	351–400	Loughborough University	Loughborough
=41	351–400	Royal Holloway, University of London	London
=41	351–400	Royal Veterinary College	London
=41	351–400	University of Stirling	Stirling
=48	401–500	Aston University	Birmingham
=48	401–500	Bangor University	Bangor
=48	401–500	Brunel University London	London
=48	401–500	Edinburgh Napier University	Edinburgh
=48	401–500	University of Lincoln	Lincoln
=48	401–500	Liverpool John Moores University	Liverpool
=48	401–500	Middlesex University	Middlesex
=48	401–500	University of Plymouth	Plymouth
=48	401–500	University of Portsmouth	Portsmouth
=48	401–500	SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College)	Edinburgh
=48	401–500	University of Strathclyde	Strathclyde
=48	401–500	University of the West of England	Bristol
=60	501–600	Aberystwyth University	Aberystwyth
=60	501–600	Birmingham City University	Birmingham
=60	501–600	University of Bradford	Bradford
=60	501–600	Goldsmiths, University of London	London
=60	501–600	University of Greenwich	Greenwich
=60	501–600	Heriot-Watt University	Edinburgh
=60	501–600	University of Hull	Hull
=60	501–600	Keele University	Keele
=60	501–600	Northumbria University	Northumbria
=60	501–600	Nottingham Trent University	Nottingham
=60	501–600	SOAS University of London	London
=71	601–800	De Montfort University	Leicester
=71	601–800	University of Derby	Derby
=71	601–800	Glasgow Caledonian University	Glasgow
=71	601–800	University of Hertfordshire	Hatfield
=71	601–800	University of Huddersfield	Huddersfield
=71	601–800	London South Bank University	London
=71	601–800	Manchester Metropolitan University	Manchester
=71	601–800	The Open University	Nationwide
=71	601–800	Oxford Brookes University	Oxford
=71	601–800	Ulster University	Ulster
=71	601–800	University of the West of Scotland	Paisley
=71	601–800	University of Wolverhampton	Wolverhampton
=83	801–1000	University of Bedfordshire	Luton
=83	801–1000	University of Brighton	Brighton
=83	801–1000	Coventry University	Coventry
=83	801–1000	Edge Hill University	Ormskirk
=83	801–1000	Kingston University	London
=83	801–1000	Leeds Beckett University	Leeds
=83	801–1000	University of Roehampton	London
=83	801–1000	University of Salford	Salford
=83	801–1000	Sheffield Hallam University	Sheffield
=83	801–1000	University of Winchester	Winchester
=93	1001–1200	Cardiff Metropolitan University	Cardiff
=93	1001–1200	University of Central Lancashire	Preston
=93	1001–1200	University of East London	London
=93	1001–1200	Robert Gordon University	Aberdeen
=93	1001–1200	University of South Wales	Pontypridd
=93	1001–1200	University of Sunderland	Sunderland
=93	1001–1200	Teesside University	Teesside
=93	1001–1200	University of Westminster	London
=101	1201–1500	Canterbury Christ Church University	Canterbury
=101	1201–1500	University of Chester	Chester
=101	1201–1500	Staffordshire University	Stoke-on-Trent