Prof. Dr. Ir. Retna Apsari, M.Si., IPM., ASEAN Eng. was born in Pacitan on June 26, 1968. She completed her undergraduate studies at Universitas Brawijaya, her master’s degree at Universitas Gadjah Mada, and her doctoral degree at Universitas Airlangga. She has been serving as a lecturer since 1995 and is currently a Full Professor in the field of Bio-optics and Laser Applications at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga.

Her research interests include Optical Fiber Sensors, Laser Applications, Biophotonics, Optical Image Processing, Photonic Materials, Optical Devices, Graphene and Fiber Lasers in Ultrafast Applications, Wireless Sensor Networks in Agricultural Monitoring, and Optical Fiber Displacement Sensors. She has established international research collaborations with institutions such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Xi’an Technological University, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Ehime University in Japan, the Laser Institute for Research and Application (LIRA), and the Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN).

Prof. Retna Apsari has extensive experience in academic book writing. Several of her published books include Teknologi Umum Rekayasa Listrik, Migrant Workers Empowerment: Literasi Digital untuk Pekerja Migran Indonesia, Biofotonika dan Aplikasi Laser, dan Fototerapi: Dari Konsep Dasar Hingga Inovasi Modern, all published by Airlangga University Press. Another book entitled Penerapan Teknologi di Bidang Kesehatan was published by Uwais Publisher. In 2025, she also published “Lapisan Fungsional dan Aplikasinya Sebagai Sensor Optik” through UB Press, as well as “Sensor Optik Berbasis Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Untuk Deteksi Covid 19” published by PT. Pustaka Saga Jawadwipa.

In international collaborative research, she has also been actively involved in the ASEAN IVO Collaborative Research and Development Agreement organized by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT).

In addition, she has produced several patents, including Non-Invasive Urine Glucose Measurement Device Based on Laser Spectroscopy for Early Detection of Diabetes Mellitus (2020), Albumin-Coated Purun Tikus (E. dulcis) Chlorophyll Biomaterial as an Organic Photosensitizer (2020), Portable Quantitative Non-Invasive Urine Glucose Measurement Device Based on Laser Spectroscopy for Early Detection of Diabetes Mellitus (2020), Photodynamic Therapy Laser Exposure Bracelet for Cancer Cells (2021), and Portable, Quantitative, and Non-Invasive Measuring of Laser Spectroscopy-Based Urine Glucose Levels for Early Detection of Diabetes Mellitus (2022).

She has also received numerous awards and recognitions, including First Place Outstanding Lecturer Award at the Faculty of Science and Technology in 2011, Outstanding Undergraduate Study Program Chair Award for the Biomedical Engineering Program at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga in 2012, and the Award for Best Community Engagement Project from the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaya in 2023.