Responsibilities
- Director of Research, National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care
- Member of research groups
USN Optics, Vision and Eye Care
Competences
Area of interests:
- The functional implications of normal, inherited and age-related structural changes in the eye’s photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium cell layer and how this relates to how we see colour, pattern/details, motion and space, as well as sensitivity to light and dark.
- Normal colour vision, deficient colour vision, colour blindness
- Visual optics and the development of the eye and refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism)
- Diurnal and circannual rythms and how this might affect ocular growth
- Retinal dystrophies and genetics
- Live imaging of retinal photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells (AOSLO imaging)
- Virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR/AR)
Teaching areas:
- Visual Perception, Psychophysics, Scientific Methods.
- MSc/MPhil and PhD supervisor.
- PhD supervisors course (train-the-trainer)
CV
ORCID Researcher unique identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3259-7617
Cristin-person-ID: 323642
Rigmor C. Baraas studied Optometry and Vision Science at University of Manchester, England. She graduated in 1994, and was subsequently appointed Lecturer in the Department of Optometry at Buskerud University College, Kongsberg, Norway. She received a PhD fellowship in 1998, and returned to Manchester to undertake postgraduate research in the Vision Science Laboratory with Prof. J. J. Kulikowski. She obtained her PhD from the University of Manchester in 2002. She then moved to the Visual and Computational Neuroscience Laboratory and undertook 3-years of postdoctoral research with Professor D. H. Foster. She returned to Buskerud University College in spring 2005 as Associate Professor of Visual Sciences in the Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences. She was promoted to full professor in November 2011. Baraas was featured as Visionary of the Quarter on the European Gateway for Vision Research for the first quarter of 2013. She is a member of NOF, OSA, ICVS and ARVO. She was the organizer of the 21st Symposium of the International Colour Vision Society and an elected director of the ICVS Board for eight consecutive years. Baraas was an elected member of the Visual Psychophysics (VI) section of the ARVO Annual Meeting Program Committee and chair of the section for 2015-2016. She is currently Editor-in-chief for Scandinavian Journal of Optometry and Visual Sciences and is on the OSA Technical Group Color (VC) Executive Commitee. She is a board memeber of Forum Farge Norway. She organizes the annual Kongsberg Vision Meeting. Baraas is the director of research at the National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
EDUCATION
2002–2005 Doctor of Philosophy: Disputation date: 09.12.2002
Supervisor: Janus J. Kulikowski, The Visual Science Laboratory, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST), Manchester, UK
1994–1995 Contact Lens Diploma. Buskerud University College, Department of Optometry, Kongsberg, Norway
1992–1994 Bachelor of Science (Hons), Optometry and Visual Science, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST), Manchester, UK
CURRENT AND PREVIOUS POSITIONS
2011–present Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, University College of Southeast Norway.
2019–Present Director of research
National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care, University College of Southeast Norway.
2013–2019 Centre Director
National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care, University College of Southeast Norway.
2014–2017 Prodean for Research
Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway.
2005–2011 Associate Professor
Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud University College. Norway
2005–2008 Honorary Visiting Research Associate
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
2002–2005 Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Wellcome Trust Grant)
Supervisor: David H. Foster, Computational Neruoscience Laboratory, University of Manchester, UK.
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2013 Awarded the Norwegian Association of Optometrist Honorary Gold Medal
2010 Recipient of the Buskerud University College Research Award 2010
2010 Recipient of the Norwegian Optometric Association Innovation Award 2010
SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND RESEARCH FELLOWS
2014–present 4 PhD and 1 Master Students
Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, 1 PhD student is affiliated with Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway
2008–2014 3 PhD and 23 Master Students
Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Norway
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
2008–present Teaching (Master and PhD) scientific methods, image processing and psychophysics. Supervision of Master and PhD students.
2005–2014 Teaching (BSc) visual physiology, visual optics, visual perception and colour vision; Supervision (BSc) Final year student research projects.
ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
2015–2017 Member of the scientific organization committee for the 24th symposium of the International Colour Vision Society, Erlangen, Germany August 18-22, 2017
2008–present Organizer of Kongsberg Vision Meeting, annual Scandinavian meeting in vision science since 2008, 20-40 participants, Kongsberg, Norway.
2012–2016 Elected member of the Visual Psychophysics (VI) section of the ARVO Annual Meeting Program Committee, Chair of the committee 2015–2016, including organization of four mini symposia over four years
2010–2011 Organizer of the 21st symposium of the International Colour Vision Society, 140 participants, Kongsberg, Norway July 1-5, 2011
INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2015–present Member of PhD program board, Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway.
2012–Present Member of institutional quality assurance in education board, University College of Southeast Norway.
2007–Present Head of Colour Vision and Retinal Imaging Research Group.
2014–2016 Project manager for the development of National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care, with responsibility for a budget of NOK 31.7 mill, attracted external funding of NOK 8 mill.
2015 Member of 2015 strategic working group for the future University College of Southeast Norway Project 1 on the new institutions platform and profile.
2012–2014 Project manager for the development of a Nordic Master in Vision Rehabilitation, budget NOK 2 mill.
2011–2013 Member of committee developing the PhD program in person-centred healthcare and the application towards NOKUT accreditation. The PhD program started in 2014.
2012–2014 Director of Postgraduate Studies including HR responsibility for the departments associate and full professors, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud University College, Norway.
2012 Member of the two working groups for organizing the Faculty of Health Sciences at the former University College Buskerud and Vestfold, operative from Jan 1. 2014.
2011 Member of the working group for organizing the new Faculty of Health Sciences at Buskerud University College, operative from Jan 2. 2012.
2009–2011 Postgraduate Coordinator, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud University College, Norway.
COMMISSIONS OF TRUST
2016–present Selected by the Board of Directors of International Colour Vision Society (ICVS) to serve as a member of the Verriest Medal Committee.
2014–2016 Member of National Body of Cooperation between the Health and Education sector in Norway [Nasjonalt samarbeidsorgan for helsesektoren og utdanningssektoren (NSHU)].
2010–present Editor-in-chief, Scandinavian Journal of Optometry and Visual Science
2005–present Peer-review work for the following journals: Retina, Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Vision Research, Journal of Vision, Eye, Acta Ophthalmology, JOSA A, Visual Neuroscience
2011–2018 Topical Editor for Journal of the Optical Society of America A feature issue on Color Vision (JOSA A Vol. 29, Iss. 2, 2012, JOSA A, Vol. 31, Iss. 4, 2014, Vol. 33, iss. 3 2016, Vol. 35 , iss. 4 2018).
2013–2016 Selected by the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America (OSA) to serve as a member of the Edgar D. Tillyer Award Committee.
2012–2016 Member of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS) and elected member of the society’s Directors Committee.
2011 Member of ARVO working group with focus on the strategy surrounding the ARVO annual meeting as well as the quality of science in ARVO meetings as part of their long range plan.
MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
2014–present Member of the Norwegian Neuroscience Society (NNS) and Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)
2005–present Member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
2000–present Member of the Optical Society of America (OSA)
1999–present Member of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS)
1994–present Member of the Norwegian Association of Optometrists (NOF)
COLLABORATIONS
Maureen Neitz, PhD, Genetics of eye diseases, University of Washington, Department of Ophthalmology, Seattle WA, USA
Joseph Carroll, PhD, Vision research, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI, USA
Alfredo Dubra, PhD, Adaptive optics retinal imaging, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford CA, USA
Christine F. Wildsoet, Myopia, University of California Berkeley School og Optometry, Berkeley, CA, USA
Michael Larsen, PhD, Eye disease, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tor P. Utheim, PhD, Eye disease, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway
Jan Kremers, PhD, Retinal physiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Publications
Recent Publications in Peer-Review Journals (for the most updated record please go to http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3259-7617)
Baraas, R. C., Pedersen, H. R., Hagen, L. A. (2019) Single-cone imaging in inherited and acquired colour vision deficiencies, Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 30: 55-59, ISSN 2352-1546, doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.05.006.
Hagen, L. A., Gilson, S. J., Akram, M. N., Baraas, R.C. (2019) Emmetropia Is Maintained Despite Continued Eye Growth From 16 to 18 Years of Age. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 60(13):4178-4186. doi: 10.1167/iovs.19-27289.
Landsend, E. C. S., Pedersen, H. R., Utheim, Ø. A., Rueegg, C. S., Baraas, R. C., Lagali, N., Bragadóttir, R., Moe, M. C., Utheim, T. P. (2019) Characteristics and Utility of Fundus Autofluorescence in Congenital Aniridia Using Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 60(13):4120-4128. doi: 10.1167/iovs.19-26994.
Hagen, L. A., Arnegard, S., Kuchenbecker, J. A., Gilson, S. J., Neitz, M., Neitz, J., Baraas, R. C. (2019) The association between L:M cone ratio, cone opsin genes and myopia susceptibility. Vision Res. 162:20-28. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2019.06.006. Epub 2019 Jul 11.
Pedersen, H. R., Neitz, M., Gilson, S. J., Landsend, E. C. S., Utheim, Ø. A., Utheim, T. P., Baraas, R. C. (2019) The Cone Photoreceptor Mosaic in Aniridia: Within-Family Phenotype-Genotype Discordance. Ophthalmol Retina 3(6):523-534. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2019.01.020.
Akram, M. N., Baraas, R. C., Baskaran, K. (2018) Improved wide-field emmetropic human eye model based on ocular wavefront measurements and geometry-independent gradient index lens. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 35(11):1954-1967. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.35.001954.
Hagen, L.A., Gjelle, J. B., Arnegard, S., Pedersen, H. R., Gilson, S. J., Baraas R. C. (2018) Prevalence and Possible Factors of Myopia in Norwegian Adolescents. Scientific Reports. 8(1):13479. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31790-y.
Pedersen, H. R., Hagen, L.A., Landsend, E., Gilson, S. J., Utheim, Ø., Utheim, T. P., Neitz, M., Baraas R. C. (2018) Color Vision in Aniridia. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science. 59(5):2142-2152. doi: 10.1167/iovs.17-23047.
Krekling E. D., Hagen L. A., Baraas R. C. (2018) Fargesynssvakheter bør avdekkes i ung alder.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening 138(12). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.18.0549
Landsend E. C. S., Utheim Ø. A., Pedersen H. R., Aass H. C. D., Lagali N., Dartt D. A., Baraas R. C., Utheim TP. (2018) The Level of Inflammatory Tear Cytokines is Elevated in Congenital Aniridia and Associated with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science. 59(5):2197-2204. doi: 10.1167/iovs.18-24027.
Landsend, E. C. S., Pedersen, H. R., Utheim, Ø., Xiao, J., Muhummed, A., Tashbayev, B., Legali, N., Dartt, D. A., Baraas R. C., Utheim, T. P. (2018) Meibomian gland dysfunction and keratopathy are associated with dry eye disease in aniridia. British Journal of Ophthalmology; Published Online First: 08 March 2018. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310927.
Pedersen, H. R., Munch, I. C., Gilson, S. J., Larsen, M., Baraas R. C. (2018) Mulitimodal imaging of small hard drusen in young healthy adults. British Journal of Ophthalmology 102:146-152.
Landsend, E., Utheim, Ø., Pedersen, H. R., Legali, N., Baraas R. C., Utheim, T. P. (2018) The genetics of congenital aniridia—a guide for the ophthalmologist. Survey of Ophthalmology 63 (1), 105-113.
Mushtaq, F., Baraas, R. C., Al-Saud, L. M., Mirghani, I., van der Zee, C., Yates, E., Keeling, A., Mon-Williams, M. A., Manogue, M. (2016) Should prospective dental students be screened for colour vision deficits? British Dental Journal 221(5):227-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.633.
Baraas, R. C., Gjelle, J. V., Finstad, E. B., Jacobsen, S. B. & Gilson, S. J. (2016) The relationship between perifoveal achromatic, L- and M-cone acuity and retinal structure as assessed with multimodal high resolution imaging. Vision Research doi:10.1016/j.visres.2016.06.005
Dees, E. W., Gilson, S. J., Neitz, M., Baraas R. C. (2015) The influence of L-opsin gene polymorphisms and neural ageing on spatio-chromatic contrast sensitivity in 20–71 year olds. Vision Research 116, 13-24.
Buck, S., Baraas, R. C., Bonnardel, V., Lee, B., Lindsay, D., Webster, M., Werner, J. S. (2014) Color vision: Introduction. Journal of the Optical Society of America 31 (4), CV1-CV2
Dees, E. W., Baraas R. C. (2014) Performance of normal females and carriers of color-vision deficiencies on standard color-vision tests. Journal of Optical Society of America A 31 (4), A401-A409
Baraas R. C., Hagen L. A., Dees E. W., Neitz M. (2012) Substitution of isoleucine for threonine at position 190 of S-opsin causes S-cone-function abnormalities. Vision Research 73, 1-9.
Buck, S., Baraas, R. C., Lee, B., Lindsay, D., Webster, M., Werner, J. S. (2012) Color vision: Introduction. Journal of the Optical Society of America 29 (2), CV1-CV3
Dees EW, Baraas R. C. (2011) Fargede filtre gir ikke rød-grønne fargesvake normal fargebedømmelse. Scandinavian Journal of Visual Science 4(2), 6-13
Dees E. W., Dubra, A., and Baraas R. C. (2011) Variability in parafoveal cone mosaic in normal trichromatic individuals. Biomedical Optics Express 2 (5), 1351-1358.
Michaelides M., Rha J., Dees E. W., Baraas R. C., Wagner-Schuman M., Mollon J. D, Dubis A. M., Andersen M. K. G., Rosenberg T., Larsen M., Moore A. T., and Carroll J. (2011) Integrity of the Cone Photoreceptor Mosaic in Oligocone Trichromacy. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science 52, 4754-4764.
Burner T., Baraas R. C. and Falkenberg H. K. (2011) Studentaktive vurderingsformer i norsk lærer- og optometriutdanning. Uniped 34, 43-56
Baraas R. C., Kulikowski J. J., and Muldoon M. (2010) Elongation of chromatic stimuli enhance the contribution of the intermediate temporal filter. Journal of Optical Society of America A 27, 766-780.
Baraas R. C., Foster D. H., Amano K., and Nascimento S. M. C. (2010) Color constancy of red-green dichromats and anomalous trichromats. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science 51, 2286-2293.
Carroll J., Baraas R. C., Morgan, J. I. W., Williams D. R., Foster D. H., Neitz M. (2009) Cone photoreceptor mosaic disruption associated with Cys203Arg mutation in the M-cone opsin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106, 20948-20953.
Recent Books and Book chapter
Kremers, J., Baraas, R. C., Marshall, N. J., (Eds.) Human Color Vision, Springer Series in Vision Research 2016; Vol.5., doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44978-4.
Baraas, R. C., Zele, A., Psychophysical Correlates of Retinal Processing, in Kremers, J., Baraas, R. C., Marshall, N. J., (Eds.) Human Color Vision, Springer Series in Vision Research 2016; Vol.5: pp.133–157, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44978-4_5.