Primary Research at UT Dallas

Neurophotonics (2010-present)

PI: Marc Christensen (Chair, Electrical Engineering, SMU)

Primary responsibilities include design and implementation of a biocompatible package to include both an optical neuronal stimulator and sensor. I personally developed a parallel process by which polymer microspheres may be fabricated with a high degree of precision and repeatability and have successfully demonstrated the mechanical viability of an encapsulation packaging process.

This project is a multi-university (SMU, UT-Dallas, UNT, Case-Western Reserve and Vanderbilt) DARPA-funded venture.

Media: KERA: Engineering Hope: Research To Aid Injured Troops

Media: SMU-led research center aims to connect brain signals to robotic limbs

Media: The DARPA Initiative: SMU, DOD Partner Again, This Time on Prosthetics That Feel

Blog: SMU leads $5.6M research center for fiber optic interface to link robotic limbs, human brain

Blog: Research Spotlight: The $5.6 million man

PhASER (2008-2010)

PI: Duncan MacFarlane (Electrical Engineering, UT-Dallas)

Primary responsibilities included design and fabrication of two-dimensional active optical lattice filter utilizing the phenomenon of frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) within nanophotonic couplers at intersections of InP ridge waveguides and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) on InP epi containing multiple InPAlGaAs quantum wells. Fabrication involves cooperation among two groups at UTD, one at Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Photodigm, a local III-V laser manufacturer. Processing required use of cleanroom facilities at UTD, SMU and Photodigm, a user facility at the University of North Texas, and the MiRC cleanroom at Georgia Tech.

PhASER was a cooperative DARPA-funded UTD venture with SMU, Photodigm, Northrup-Grumman, and Raytheon as subconcontractors.

Media: $1.75 Million Grant to Fund Push for Photon Chip