Université Laval Professor Simon Thibault Appointed Series Editor Of SPIE Field Guides
Thibault will lead the SPIE Press series starting in January 2026.
On 1 January 2026, Simon Thibault of Université Laval, will become the new editor of the SPIE Field Guide series. Written for the practicing engineer or scientist, each Field Guide — covering focused topics such as optical engineering, light-matter interaction, and infrared optical materials — includes key definitions, equations, methods, applications, and design considerations required for the lab and in the field.
At Université Laval, Thibault is the director of the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Optics and a researcher in optical design. He will succeed the current Series Editor, J. Scott Tyo, who has held the role since 2020.
In addition, Thibault holds the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Optical Design, a role he has held since 2008. He leads the university’s Optical Engineering Research Lab as well as heading up the Advanced Optical Fabrication Infrastructure program. Thibault is also a faculty member of the university’s Centre for Optics, Photonics, and Lasers (COPL).
Thibault’s research interests include optical design; AI in lens design; optical metrology; adaptive optics; and optics in extreme environments. He has designed and built more than 200 optical systems, ranging from space astronomical optical systems to miniature cell phone camera modules and medical endoscopes. Thibault is the author and co-author of more than 30 patents, and over 300 conference presentations and journal articles including plenary, keynote, and invited talks.
An SPIE Fellow since 2018, Thibault has been involved in multiple SPIE conferences — including Optics + Photonics and Optical Systems Design — and has been an associate editor for the SPIE journal Optical Engineering.
He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics in 1994, his master’s degree in physics the following year, and his doctorate in optical system design in 1998, all from the Université Laval.
“It is truly a privilege and an honor to take on this responsibility,” says Thibault. “I hope to be up to the task of continuing to develop this reference tool that is loved by all.”
“SPIE Press is thrilled to have Professor Thibault as the new Field Guide series editor,” says SPIE Manager of Technical Content and Scientific Content and SPIE Press Manager Matt Jungwirth. “Professor Thibault’s blend of deep technical knowledge and forward-thinking perspective make him an ideal leader for the Field Guides. He understands that scholarly publishing is changing with the advent of artificial intelligence, and how SPIE’s constituents consume information. I am confident his fresh perspective will ensure that Field Guides remain the valuable resource they have been since 2004.”
About SPIE
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, we have invested more than $25 million in the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. www.spie.org.