Our Team
Describe your team here.
Vivian graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2018 and 2019 respectively. During her Master’s degree she worked in optical characterization of quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride and silicon carbide. Vivian joined the Lipson Nanophotonics Group in 2019 as a PhD student. Her research interest involves strain induced single photon sources in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring the food scene in the city with friends.
Richard “Reed” Thomson joined the group in 2021 while an undergraduate in the Columbia Electrical Engineering department after developing a strong interest in silicon photonics from his time in the Lightwave Research Lab. Upon graduation in May 2022, he did an internship in optical engineering at iRobot before coming back to the group to start as an MS/PhD student, where he plans to study novel wave guiding structures and next generation photonic modulators. Outside of research, Reed is engaged in the Columbia Cycling Club and enjoys spending time outside.
Oliver graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Engineering Physics with High Honors and a minor in Mathematics in 2019. As an undergraduate, he worked on using phase-only spatial light modulation to control the transverse modes of optical fibers. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Columbia University. Outside of research, Oliver enjoys hiking, music, and is learning how to play soccer.
Karl graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology and Roberts Wesleyan College with a BS in microelectronics engineering and physics respectively in 2021. As an undergraduate, he worked on MEMS photonic phase shifting devices based on movable suspended microbridges. He also interned at the Naval Research Lab and Intel’s Silicon Photonics Integration group during his time as an undergrad. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Columbia University. Outside of research, Karl enjoys participating in a variety of sports and playing with his dog Chester.
Led to study physics by a life-long fascination with light, Jacob was first exposed to the exciting possibilities of photonics research as a visiting research assistant in the Laboratory for Nano and Micro Photonics. There he investigated the feasibility of using nano antennas to manipulate magnetic dipole transitions in nearby molecules and unlock forbidden photochemical reactions. In a subsequent research fellowship at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Jacob designed, fabricated and characterized chip-integrated tunable photon sources.
He is interested in understanding the fundamental limits on how a photonic device may exchange information and energy with its environment, and in doing so hopes to uncover novel technological capabilities.
In the fall of 2021 Jacob came to Columbia University as a Ms/PhD student in Applied Physics. Outside of academic pursuits Jacob enjoys cooking for friends, getting out and enjoying nature, reading, and taking care of plants. Recently he has been learning how to play the drums.