Ching-Cherng Sun, a professor and chair of the department of optics and photonics at Taiwan’s National Central University (NCU), is a recognized pioneer in LED solid-state lighting whose groundbreaking research has not only advanced the scientific foundation of LED optical design, development, and testing but has also had a far-reaching impact on industry, academia, and society. His rigorous optical modeling is foundational to LED optics. He developed precise phosphor models to accurately predict the emission spectra and correlated color temperature (CCT) of white LEDs, and Sun’s novel packaging design achieved 80% efficiency and low angular CCT variation, one of the best performances ever reported in the field. In addition, Sun was the first to identify photon recycling as a dominant factor in light extraction efficiency, enabling precise design for diverse applications, such as automotive headlamps, street lighting, projectors, marine signals, and traffic signage. Since 1996, in his role as a teacher and educator, he has advised more than 20 PhD students and over 200 Master’s students. Through NCU courses such as “Optical Systems,” “Geometrical Optics,” “Fourier Optics,” “Optical Waves in Crystals,” and “Advanced Optical Systems,” he as impacted thousands of undergraduate and graduate students.
An SPIE Fellow Member since 2005, Sun has contributed to the Society in myriad ways. From 2002-2003 he held the role of chair of the SPIE Taiwan Chapter, and, from 2019-2022, was president of the Taiwan Photonics Society. In 2004 and 2021, Sun was a guest editor on special sections of the SPIE journal Optical Engineering. He currently contributes as chair and committee member to SPIE conferences “Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering” and “Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications.”
“I have known Professor Sun for many years through our shared professional circles, and I have followed his remarkable career with great admiration,” says University of Arizona Professor of Optical Sciences and Astronomy Daewook Kim. “His sustained and pioneering contributions to the field of LED optics and optical engineering are not merely significant; they are foundational, shaping the very landscape of solid-state lighting from theoretical underpinnings to practical, real-world applications. Professor Sun's career is a testament to the principles that defined Alexander Eugen Conrady's own legacy: a relentless pursuit of both theoretical elegance and practical engineering excellence. Professor Sun's work has provided the essential tools, models, and methodologies that have propelled the field of solid-state lighting forward. He is an academician whose research is not confined to the laboratory but is actively sought after by industry to solve its most complex challenges. He embodies the spirit of an optical engineer who bridges the gap between pure science and tangible and impactful technology.”
Meet the other 2026 SPIE Society Award winners.
Read more about the SPIE A. E. Conrady Award in Optical Engineering.
