On March 9^th, 2025, we received another EB-1B (Outstanding Professors and Researchers) approval for a Senior Optical Engineer in the Field of Directed Energy (Approval Notice).

General Field: Directed Energy

Position at the Time of Case Filing: Senior Optical Engineer

Country of Origin: China

State of Residence at the Time of Filing: New Jersey

Approval Notice Date: March 9^th, 2025

Processing Time: 3 months, 10 days (Premium Processing Requested)

Case Summary: 

The science of light is rarely still, and neither are the people advancing it. One senior optical engineer, born in China and now conducting cutting-edge work in directed energy, has recently earned EB1B (Outstanding Professors and Researchers) approval. This recognition not only honors a decade of innovation in high-performance lasers and medical imaging systems but also paves the way for continued breakthroughs in one of the most strategically vital fields of our time.

Currently employed in the private sector, this researcher has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what is possible with advanced photonics setups. His work has directly impacted medical diagnostics, cardiac imaging, and next-generation manufacturing techniques. At the core of his research are innovations in laser sources and medical imaging —advancements that have significantly improved laser source and imaging performance, cost-efficiency, high-quality,  and application flexibility.

The petition submitted on his behalf documented 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, 4 peer-reviewed conference papers, a preprint, and an abstract. His research has been cited 281 times across the globe by scholars in the U.S., Japan, Russia, Belgium, and beyond. His contributions have consistently ranked among the top 10% most-cited works in engineering in their respective publication years.

Beyond publishing, this engineer is a dedicated contributor to the academic community. He has performed at least 60 peer reviews and sits on the editorial board of the American Journal of Optics and Photonics. His peer-reviewed work for prestigious journals such as Photonics, Cancers, Applied Sciences, and Journal of Biophotonics demonstrates the trust that his field places in his judgment.

His impact is also validated through multiple streams of competitive funding, including but not limited to the support from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. These investments back his work in high-performance laser sources and medical imaging technologies with real potential to transform the medical and industrial sectors.

One independent expert in the field of photonics put it clearly:

“[Client’s] research has shaped the field in a way that few others have. His saturable absorber designs have enabled proof-of-concept lasers that outperform conventional systems in stability, damage tolerance, and frequency range.”

His EB1B case did face scrutiny—an RFE was issued shortly after filing—but it also provided an opportunity. In response, we provided a robust portfolio that mapped his work’s relevance to national and international advancements in directed energy, reinforcing how his engineering solutions have become foundational across multiple application areas.

With this approval, he now continues his research at the forefront of photonic systems, designing medical imaging platforms with global relevance. His journey speaks not only to professional excellence but to the strategic role U.S. immigration can play in keeping critical innovation within reach.

At NAILG, we’re proud to have supported this engineer in earning his well-deserved recognition—and in lighting the way forward for the future of directed energy.