Expert in optical remote sensing instrument development, calibration, and applications, emphasizing lidar, radiometric and polarimetric remote sensing, and science and photography of optical phenomena in nature.

Optical Technology Center 
334-A Norm Asbjornson Hall, Box 173515
Montana State University 
Bozeman, Montana 59717-3515 
(+1) 406-994-7261 
joseph.shaw@montana.edu 

Education 

1996                Ph.D.                           Optical Sciences                                  University of Arizona
1994                M.S.                             Optical Sciences                                  University of Arizona
1989                M.S.                             Electrical Engineering                         University of Utah
1987                B.S.  (Honors)             Electrical Engineering                        University of Alaska

Professional Experience 

2020 – present   Distinguished Professor – Electrical & Computer Engineering Dept. (& Affiliate Prof., Physics),                                          Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.                          

2004 – present   Director - Optical Technology Center (OpTeC), Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. 

2008 – 2020       Professor – Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (Affiliate Professor, Physics), MSU. 

2001 – 2008       Associate Professor - Electrical and Computer Engineering (Affiliate Assoc. Professor, Physics),
                             Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.   

1989 – 2001       Electro-Optical Engineer - NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado. 

Visiting & Affiliate Appointments 

2026 – present   Adjunct Professor and Visiting Professor of Optical Sciences, James C. Wyant College of Optical
                              Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. 

2016                     Visiting Professor, Applied Physics Department, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. 

2015                     Visiting Researcher, Space Dynamics Laboratory, Logan, Utah. 

1998 – 2001        Professor Adjoint - University of Colorado-Boulder, Electrical Engineering Department. 

1997                     Visiting Researcher, Communications Research Lab, Koganei, Japan. 

Selected Awards and Honors 

Alumnus of the year - University of Arizona, Wyant College of Optical Sciences, 2025
Graduate Student Mentoring Award – Montana State University, 2020
G. G. Stokes Award – International Society for Optics & Photonics (SPIE), 2019
Provost’s Distinguished Lecture Series Speaker – Montana State University, 2016-2017
Meritorious Technology/Science Award– Montana State University, 2015
Wiley Award for Meritorious Research – Montana State University, 2014
Cox Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching – MSU, 2012
Fellow – International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), 2008  
Fellow - Optical Society of America, 2004
Professor Vilho Vaisala Award - World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, 2000
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 1998.

Recent Professional Service 

  • Strategic Planning Committee, SPIE, 2025 - 2028.
  • Publications Committee, SPIE, 2025 - 2028. 
  • Board of Directors, SPIE, 2020 – 2023.
  • Board of Directors, Montana Photonics Industry Alliance, 2013 – 2021.
  • Education Committee, SPIE, 2019 – 2020.
  • Guest Editor, Optical Engineering (SPIE), 2018-2019.
  • Associate Editor, J. Applied Remote Sensing (SPIE), 2013–2017.
  • Guest Editor, Applied Optics (OSA), Feature Issues on Light and Color in Nature, 2016-2017, 2014-2015, 2010-2011, 2007–2008.
  • Chair, Awards Committee (SPIE), 2014–2015.
  • Chair, Stokes Award Subcommittee (SPIE), 2011-2015.
  • Organizing Committee, Int’l Conference on Light and Color in Nature, 2006-present.

Selected Publications 

(from >121 peer-reviewed journal papers and >173 reviewed conference proceeding papers)

J. A. Shaw, G. E. Shaw, B. Scherrer, L. Eshelman, and S. Turcotte, "Eclipse sky brightness and color," Appl. Opt. 65(9), C66-C74 (2026).  

S. M. Hamp, R. D. Logan, E. A. Sproles, and J. A. Shaw, “Short-wave infrared radiometer for airborne validation of satellite snow products,” J. Appl. Rem. Sens. 20(1), 017501 (2026).

Venkatesulu, R. D. Logan, and J. A. Shaw, “Model of disk-averaged polarization of the Moon,” IEEE Trans. Geosci. Rem. Sens. 63, 1-10 (2025).

J. Field and J. A. Shaw, “Dichroic Mueller pulsed lidar testbed,” Opt. Eng. 64(7), 074103 (2025).

E. Venkatesulu and J. A. Shaw, "Polarization images of the Moon as a function of the lunar phase," Opt. Express32(14), 24275-24292 (2024). 

R. D. Logan and J. A. Shaw, "Benthic river algae mapping using hyperspectral imagery from unoccupied aerial vehicles," J. Appl. Rem. Sens.18(2), 024513 (2024). 

C. Vannoy, N. B. Sweeney, J. A. Shaw, and B. M. Whitaker, “Comparison of supervised learning and changepoint detection for insect detection in lidar data,” Remote Sensing15(24), 5634 (2023).

E. Venkatesulu and J. A. Shaw, “Measuring the spectral response of a division-of-focal-plane polarization imager using a grating monochromator,” Appl. Opt. 61(9), 2364-2370 (2022).

M. R. Roddewig, J. H. Churnside, and J. A. Shaw, “Lidar measurements of the diffuse attenuation coefficient in Yellowstone Lake,” Appl. Opt. 59(10), 3097-3101 (2020). 

B. Scherrer, J. Sheppard, P. Jha, and J. A. Shaw, “Hyperspectral imaging and neural networks to classify herbicide-resistant weeds,” J. Appl. Rem. Sens. 13(4), 044516 (2019).

L. M. Eshelman, M. J. Tauc, and J. A. Shaw, “All-sky polarization imaging of cloud thermodynamic phase,” Optics Express,27(3), 3528-3541 (2019). 

M. J. Tauc, K. M. Fristrup, Kevin S. Repasky, J. A. Shaw, “Field demonstration of a wingbeat modulation lidar for 3D mapping of flying insects,” OSA Continuum2(2), 332-348 (2019). 

L. M. Eshelman and J. A. Shaw, “The VIS-SWIR spectrum of skylight polarization with variable aerosols and surface reflectance,” Appl. Opt. 57(27), 7974-7986 (2018). 

B. J. Redman, J. A. Shaw, P. W. Nugent, R. T. Clark, and S. Piazzolla, “Reflective all-sky thermal infrared cloud imager,” Opt. Express26(9), 11276-11283 (2018). 

J. A. Shaw and P. W. Nugent, “Physics principles in thermal infrared imaging of clouds in the atmosphere,” European J. Physics34, S111-S121 (2013).

J. A. Shaw, “Radiometry & Friis Transmission Equation,” Am. J. Physics81(1), 33-37 (2013). 

Book

Optics in the Air: Observing Optical Phenomena Through Airplane Windows, SPIE Press 2017.

Technology Transfer (selected)