Michael Albright | Carrie Bartsch | Matthew Blasczak | Fei Chen | Vamsy Chodavarapu | John Choi | Madalina Furis | Pratibha Gopalam | Evan Haas | Vincent K.S. Hsiao | Xin Hu | Preeti Joshi | Supriya Khanolkar | Christian Körner | Heng Liu| Nathan Merkel | Sundari Nagarathnam | Ross Padak | Menq J. Pan | Michael Pan | Sreeja Raghunath | Sarojini Ramakrishnan | Gurinder Singh | Christopher Striemer | Paul Sweeney | Matthew Watkins | Christian Wengerter | Ying Zhao

Michael Albright

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab September 1996 - May 1997.
  • Former President of HKN (EE Honor Society) - Zeta Pi Chapter.
  • University Honors Program.
  • Winner of NASA fellowship.
  • Earned BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University at Buffalo in 1997.
  • Moved on to work for Lockheed Martin after his graduation.

 

Project Description:

This project uses C++ within the Windows 95 environment to develop a data acquisition and control system for the femtosecond pump/probe experiment. As part of this project, computer interfacing through the IEEE bus, data I/O, and user interface issues must be addressed.
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Carrie Bartsch nee Harder

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab from May 1998 to Sept. 2000.
  • Recipient of the Grace W. Capen award.
  • Recipient of NASA fellowship.
  • President of HKN (EE Honor Society) - Zeta Pi Chapter in 1999/2000.
  • Earned BS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in 2000.
  • Earned MSE in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from University of Michigan.
  • Currently pursuing her Ph.D. at University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.

Project of NASA fellowship:

A microprocessor controlled beam profiler
This project focused on designing and implementing a simple portable microprocessor controlled beam profiler that can be used to measure the spot size of any laser beam or collimated light source.  It can completely characterize Gaussian laser beams by determining the divergence and beam waist.
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Matthew Blasczak

Background:

  • Winner of NASA scholarship.
  • Winner of Presidential Fellowship.
  • Winner of Senior Scholar Award.
  • Winner of The Association of Old Crows Award.
  • Earned BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo.

Thesis:

 

An experimental whole field ultrafast interferometric technique for nondestructive evaluation and material characterization

 

  • Interferometric techniques for the quantization of stress and strain in materials.
  • Specific interferometric techniques include:
    • Ultrafast Twyman Green Interferometry,
    • Moire Interferometry,
    • Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI).
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Fei Chen

Background:

  • Earned BS in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University, China, in July 1998
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University, China, in June 2000
  • Earned PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University at Buffalo in June 2004
  • Post-Doc at the University at Buffalo, September 2004-January 2006
  • Currently employed with ESI (Electro Scientific Industries), Portland, Oregon.
  • Joined the LASER LAB in August 2000

Dissertation:

Optical spectroscopy of InGaN/GaN heterostructures and InN epilayers
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Vamsy Chodavarapu

Background:

  • Earned BE in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from Osmania University, India, in June 2001
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in December 2002
  • Earned Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering 2006
  • Joined the LASER LAB in September 2001
  • Currently Assistant Professor at McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Project Description:

  • Optoelectronic Biosensors:
    This project deals with the development of novel biosensors using fiber optics and optical waveguides.
  • Educational JAVA Applets:
    This project deals with the development of JAVA Educational Applets as design and simulation tools (see Java applets). It also involves development of a virtual learning environment using Web-based multimedia technologies.
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John Choi

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab between September 1998 and August 1999.
  • Won Prasant Desai Memorial 3-Stage Amplifier Design competition.
  • Recipient of Jarvis Scholarship.
  • Earned BS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in 1999.
  • Moved on to California Institute of Technology for his graduate studies.

 

Project Description:

Development of Spatial Light Modulators Based on III-N Heterostructures. This project will focus on developing the numerical models of the InGaN/GaN materials using commonly available software.
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Madalina Furis

Background:

resume in Portable Document Format (PDF)

  • Worked in the Laser Lab between September 2001 and Janurary 2004.
  • Earned MS in Semiconductor Physics from University of Bucharest, Romania, in 1997.
    • Earned BS in Solid State Physics from University of Bucharest, Romania, in 1996.
  • Earned Ph.D. in Physics from University at Buffalo in 2004
  • Post doctorate research in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Los Alamos NM which began in March 2004 - 2006.
  • Currently an Assistant Professor with the University of Vermont.

Dissertation:

Time Resolved Spectroscopy of Nitride Emitters

Other Projects:

  • CW and Time-resolved spectroscopy of GaP and InP nanoparticles.
  • CW and Time-resolved spectroscopy of GaN based superlattices for near IR Intersub-band transitions.
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Pratibha Gopalam

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab between September 1999 and June 2001.
  • Earned BE in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Bangalore University, India.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in 2001.

Thesis:

Framework for Java simulation tools and E-laboratories
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Evan Haas

Background:

  • Junior Computer Engineering Major
  • Recipient of NASA Fellowship
  • Member of Tau Beta Pi – Engineering Honor Society
  • Member of Eta Kappa Nu – Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society
  • Member of Golden Key International Honor Society
  • Member of Phi ETA Sigma – National Honor Society
  • University at Buffalo Honors Scholars Program
  • Recipient of Grace W. Capen Award
  • Alumni Association Scholarship
  • Motorola Corporation Scholarship

Project Description:

 

Patterning of self-assembled nanoparticles by electron-beam lithography. This is done by mixing the nanoparticles with the photoresist to complete the fabrication in fewer steps than currently needed.

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Vincent K. S. Hsiao

Background:

  • Earned BS degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Tatung University, Taiwan, June 1995
  • Earned MS degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Tatung University, Taiwan, June 1997
  • Earned Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo, August 2005
  • Joined Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics in February 2002
  • Currently a Postdoc at Penn State.

Dissertation:

Optical Nanofabrication of Photopolymer Based Photonic Bandgap Structures: Materials and Applications

Project Description:

  • Electrical and optical switchable holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLC) grating and lasing application
  • Photopolymer based Photonic band gap (PBG) structure with high index modulation
  • Chemical vapor sensing using porous holographic polymer grating
  • Photopatterning of nanoparticles using holographic method
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Xin Hu

Background:

  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo
  • Currently employed at Ropes and Gray, Boston, MA
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Preeti Joshi

Background:

  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo, February 2005

Project Title:

A wireless sensor network using multiple protocols

 
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Supriya Khanolkar

Background:

  • Earned BE in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Karnatak University, India, in November 2000.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering under Dr. Albert Titus from University at Buffalo in 2004.

Project Title:

 

CMOS Integrated Optical Sensor Using Phase Detection
This project is related to Vamsy Chodavarapu's research. The CMOS circuit is designed to be integrated with the optoelectronic biosensor.

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Christian Körner

Background:

  • Worked in Laser Lab between January 2002 and September 2003.
  • Earned Pre-Diploma Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Darmstadt University of Technology (TUD), Germany, in October 2000.
  • German foreign exchange student from TUD.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from the University at Buffalo in 2003.
  • Attending TUD for Diploma-Engineering Degree.

Project Description:

Intra-band Lasing in wide Bandgap Semiconductors:
The project deals with investigating the stability of AlGaN based intra-band lasers for Optical Communications. These lasers are based on Multiple Quantum Well structures in which the carriers can tunnel from one well to another and form small bands.
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Heng Liu

Background:

  • Worked in the LASER LAB between February 2000 and May 2003.
  • Earned BS in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University, China, in July 1999.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in May 2001.
  • Earned Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in September 2003.
  • Joined Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI) in June 2003, doing research on functional MRI and its applications on drug abuse.
  • Designed and implemented high sensitivity phase shifting moire interferometry.
  • Developed continuous and discrete wavelet transform based image processing algorithms to achieve accurate in-plane strain map from noisy interferograms.
  • Studied reliability of BGA electronic packages under thermal stress.
  • Currently an algorithm engineer at KLA-Tencor in San Jose, CA.

Dissertation:

Phase reconstruction of phase shifted moire interferograms using continuous wavelet transform
  • Part of a project for development of Interferometric methods for improvements in Electronic Packaging.
  • Development of high accuracy phase shifting interferometry methods for studying the effects on electronic chips by:
    • temperature
    • stress
    • vibration
  • Automation of fringe processing and developing image processing techniques based on interferometric patterns.
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Nathan Merkel

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab September 1997 - May 1998.
  • Winner of NASA fellowship. Winner of Senior Scholar Award.
  • Completed BS of Physics at SUNY at Fredonia.
  • Was President of TBP (Engineering Honor Society).
  • Was Battalion Commander for Canisius College ROTC Program.
  • Earned BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University at Buffalo.

Project Description:

Developed interferometry techniques using Ti:Sapphire ultrafast pulsed laser. The goal was to nondestructively analyze internal strains within multilayered devices.
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Sundari Nagarathnam

Background:

  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Project Description:

This project involves fabricating and testing n-i-n devices in both II-VI and III-V materials.  Studying photodegration of these materials by PL, photocurrent, DLTS and X-ray techniques is also involved.
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Ross Padak

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab January 1995 - May 1997.
  • Earned BS of Physics at SUNY at Fredonia.
  • Attempted BS in EE.
  • Moved on to work for Lockheed Martin after his graduation.

 

Project Description:

This project used C++ within the Windows 95 environment to develop a data acquisition and control system for the Spectro Pro 150 monochromator. This monochromater control is essential for measurements of linear transmission, and stark shifts in semiconductor heterostructure device structures. As part of this project, computer interfacing through the IEEE bus, data I/O, and user interface issues must be addressed.
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Menq J. Pan

Background:

  • Winner of NASA fellowship.
  • Earned BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo.

 
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Michael Pan

Background:

  • Earned BS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in June 2000
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in June 2002
  • Joined the LASER LAB in September 2000
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Sreeja Raghunath

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab between September 2001 and May 2003.
  • Earned BE in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Calicut University, India, in June 2001.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University a Buffalo in 2003.

Thesis:

Real-time adaptive alignment of free-space optical interconnects for integrated circuits
This thesis explains the potential of Free Space Optical Interconnects (FSOIs) to solve the interconnect scaling problem at inter-board and inter-chip levels. Though FSOIs offer low latency, high throughput, high bandwidth and simple integration with silicon circuits, they are prone to misalignments due to temperature variations and mechanical disturbances. To this effect, this thesis investigates and demonstrates the significance of a real-time adaptive alignment principle in the performance of a free space optical Interconnection system.
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Sarojini Ramakrishnan

Background:

  • Earned BE in Telecommunications Engineering from Visveswaraiah Technological University, Bangalore, India in May 2002
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering 2005.
  • Currently employed at Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego, California.
  • Joined the LASER LAB in March 2004.

Thesis:

Reflectance Spectroscopy of Skin and Application in Skin Biometry


Project Description:

  • Skin Biometry
    This project investigates the possibility of using skin to identify individuals uniquely using optical methods.
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Gurinder Singh

Background:

  • Earned BE in Electronics and Electical Communication from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, INDIA, in June 2001.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo, USA, in June 2003.
  • Joined the LASER LAB in June 2003.

Project Description:

  • CW and Time-resolved spectroscopy of InP and CdSe nanoparticles.
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Christopher Striemer

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab September 1996 - August 1997.
  • Was Vice President of TBP (Engineering Honor Society).
  • Winner of NSF Graduate fellowship.
  • Winner of DOD Graduate fellowship.
  • Winner of NASA fellowship.
  • Winner of The Association of Old Crows Award.
  • Earned BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University at Buffalo.
  • Moved on to the University of Rochester for his graduate studies.

Project Description:

This project was an educational experience for a student. There is no formal class that teaches the details of the technique of time-resolved frequency upconversion and its applications to the measurements of carrier lifetimes in semiconductors. Through this independent study project, we analyzed and set up the experiment that will continue to be used for many years in the future.
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Paul Sweeney

Background:

  • Joined the LASER LAB in September 1997.
  • Earned BS in Math and Physics from Canisius College May 1997.
  • Earned MS in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo.
  • Earned Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering 2005.

Dissertation:

Piezoelectricity and Indium Segregation for III - Nitride Heterostructure Devices

Project Description:

Investigation of Gallium Nitride devices:
Wide bandgap semiconductors are of technological interest for photonics because optoelectronic devices operating at ultraviolet (UV) and visible wavelengths can be fabricated from these semiconductors. These devices (lasers, light emitting diodes (LED's), photodetectors, and modulators) have applications in display technology, printer technology, medical technology, high-density optical storage, UV-communications, and many others.
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Matthew Watkins

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab between May 2003 and December 2003.
  • Participated in the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program (Summer 2003).
  • Earned B.S. in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the University at Buffalo 2005.
  • Recipient of Motorola Corporation Scholarship.
  • Recipient of SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.
  • Currently pursuing his MS & Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell.

Project Description:

  • Hybrid Organic-Inorganic InP Quantum Dot LED Devices
    Working to create hybrid Organic LED devices using InP nanoparticles as an emissive layer and organic polymers as charge transporting layers. The goal is to combine the low cost and ease of manufacturing of organic polymers with the longer lifetime and high efficiency of the semiconductor nanoparticles. The nanoparticles also have the advantage that their emission peak can be changed solely by changing their diameter. This allows one process to be used to make different color LEDs.
  • This research was started as part of a summer 2003 NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program and has continued into the Fall semester.
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Christian Wengerter

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab: September 1996 - September 1997.
  • Earned MS degree in Electrical Engineering from University at Buffalo in August 1997.
  • German foreign exchange Student from Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (THD).
  • Left for THD for Diplom-Engineering Degree.

Thesis:

Differential reflection measurements of quantum well structures for optical modulators

 

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Ying Zhao

Background:

  • Worked in the Laser Lab in the last couple of years of her doctorate program.
  • Earned Ph.D. in Civil and Structural Engineering from University at Buffalo in 2000.

Dissertation:

 

Thermomechanical behavior of ball grid array solder joints under thermal and vibration loading: testing and modeling
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