Photonics/Quantum

We are working to develop and commercialize advanced photonics, cutting-edge technologies that will allow us to process information and energy in a way that can solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.

20

Key research and educational initiatives underway

186.3K

miles per second that light travels

21

Faculty members actively engaged in photonics research

$660B

Estimated market value of the photonics industry by 2020

Photonics for Quantum Workshop

The Photonics for Quantum Workshop brings some of the world’s leading scientists at the intersection of photonics and quantum research to RIT to explore how photonic devices may impact quantum science, technology, and applications. The workshop features international pioneers in the advancement of photonics for quantum devices and in their use in computing, communication, imaging, sensing, and clocks. 

Learn more about the Photonics for Quantum Workshop 

Research Centers

Center for Detectors

Designs, develops, and implements new advanced sensor technologies through collaboration with academic researchers, industry engineers, government scientists, and university/college students. The center operates four laboratories and has approximately a dozen funded projects to advance detectors in a broad array of applications.

Learn more about the Center for Detectors

Nanopower Research Labs

Represents a consortium of five RIT faculty from both the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the College of Science working on applications of nanomaterials in energy and photonics. Research is focused on the development of new materials and devices for power generation and storage as well as novel materials for photonic and optoelectronic applications.

Learn more about the Nanopower Research Labs

Semiconductor Nanofabrication Laboratory

Provides state-of-the-art facilities and support for undergraduate and graduate programs in microelectronic engineering, microsystems, and related disciplines. The facility also provides industrial affiliates in the semiconductor and microsystems industries with applied solutions in microdevice design, process development, microsystem integration, and prototype fabrication.

Learn more about the Semiconductor and Microsystems Fabrication Laboratory

Key Faculty and Staff

Don Figer
Director of Center for Detectors
Dean’s Office
Seth Hubbard
School Head
Dean’s Office
Karl Hirschman
Associate Department Head, Microelectronic Engineering
Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Parsian Katal Mohseni
Associate Professor, Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Stefan Preble
Bausch and Lomb Professor and PhD Program Director, Microsystems
Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Ben Zwickl
Professor, Physics
School of Physics and Astronomy
Mishkat Bhattacharya
Professor, Physics
School of Physics and Astronomy
Richard DeMartino
Professor, Behavioral Science/IB/Strat Management
Department of Management
Edwin Hach
Associate Professor, Physics
School of Physics and Astronomy
Drew Maywar
Professor, Electrical, Computer, and Telecommunication Engineering Tech
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
Rajendran Murthy
Professor, Marketing
Department of MIS, Marketing, and Analytics
Zoran Ninkov
Professor, Imaging Science
Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
Sean Rommel
Professor, Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Michael Zemcov
Associate Professor, Astronomy
School of Physics and Astronomy
Jing Zhang
Associate Professor, Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Santosh Kurinec
Professor, Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering
Cristian Linte
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Latest News

  • October 14, 2020

    researchers in masks working in a lab.

    L3Harris becomes industry partner for RIT’s Future Photon Initiative

    RIT’s Future Photon Initiative (FPI) and L3Harris have entered into a new industry partnership to develop quantum technologies. The partners will begin developing next steps for experiments and analysis focused on quantum information processing for communication, sensing, and computing.

  • August 5, 2020

    detector chip carriers and socket.

    RIT student Justin Gallagher helps lead NASA-funded project to build single photon detectors

    An RIT student is on a mission to help build detectors that could identify individual photons from distant, inhabitable planets. Justin Gallagher, a fifth-year student from Rochester, N.Y., pursuing his BS in physics and MS in astrophysical sciences and technology, is serving as project manager for a nearly $1 million grant funded by NASA to create a single photon sensing and number resolving detector for NASA missions.

  • August 3, 2020

    professor looking at laptop.

    RIT faculty gearing up to apply spring learnings to fall classes

    The unexpected transition to remote learning during the spring semester challenged faculty across RIT to experiment, create, and deploy new methods of instruction to ensure student success. As the university gears up for in-person and online classes—or a combination of both—faculty members are applying a wide range of lessons learned from the spring to keep academic momentum moving forward in the fall.