June 17, 2019

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Two-dimensional (2D) materials—as thin as a single layer of atoms—have intrigued scientists with their flexibility, elasticity, and unique electronic properties since first being discovered in materials such as graphene in 2004. When stretched and pulled under applied strain, they can undergo phase transitions as disparate as superconducting one moment, nonconducting the next, or optically opaque one moment and transparent the next. Stephen Wu, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his lab have combined 2D materials with oxide materials in a new way, using a transistor-scale device platform, to fully explore the capabilities of these changeable 2D materials to transform electronics, optics, computing, and a host of other technologies. The technology, described in Nature Nanotechnology, “opens up a new direction of study,” Stephen says. Well done, Stephen! Read more here.

After a year’s hiatus, the Light & Sound Interactive conference returns next Tuesday through Thursday, June 25-27, at various downtown venues, showcasing the Rochester region’s expertise in innovation, imaging, and optics. And just as in 2017, several Hajim School faculty and alumni will deliver talks, participate in panel discussions, or compete among the finalists in this year’s Luminate competition.

The leader of the Augmented and Virtual Reality Track is David Williams, dean for research in Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; director of the Center for Visual Science; and William G. Allyn Professor of Medical Optics. Other participants in this track include Nick Vamivakas, associate professor of quantum optics and quantum physics; Aaron Bauer, senior research engineer with the Institute of Optics; Zhen Bai, assistant professor of computer science; and Jannick Rolland, the Brian J. Thompson Professor of Optical Engineering and director of the Center for Freeform Optics.
Co-leader of the Audio and Music Track is Mark Bocko ‘84, director of the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences, chair and distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering, and director of the audio and music engineering program. Also participating in this track are Michael Heilemann ’15, ’18, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Fuat Koro ’97 ’98 ’03 MBA, a graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Simon Business School, now vice president and head of corporate strategy and innovation at Bose Corporation.
Participants in the Optics, Photonics, and Imaging Track include Williams and Edward White ’77 ’84 MBA, a graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Simon Business School, currently AIM Photonics associate vice president for the Test, Assembly, and Packaging (TAP) Facility in Rochester.
Barry Silverstein ’84, director of Optics and Display Research at Facebook Reality Labs and a graduate of the Institute of Optics, is among the keynote speakers.
The 10 finalists in the Luminate 2019 competition include Ovitz, which develops individualized vision care, including a custom contact lens, and uses proprietary software algorithms to diagnose abnormal corneas. Ovitz founder and CEO Felix Kim ’14 is a graduate of the Institute of Optics, as is engineering director Nick Brown ’15. Chief scientist Geunyoung Yoon is a professor of ophthalmology and of biomedical engineering.

This is a great opportunity for Hajim students, staff, and faculty to hear from — and network with — leading experts in fields germane to many of the initiatives we are pursuing. Read more here .

Congratulations again to members of the SPIE student chapter at the Institute of Optics, who organized the Light and Lilacs exhibit at the recent Lilac Festival. Their community outreach project helped observe UNESCO’s annual International Day of Light. Nicholas Kochan, head of the outreach committee, and Di Xu, Saleem Iqbal, Benjamin Moon, Janet Hrdina, David Lippman, Saniat Ahmed Choudhury, Matthias Banet, Kaitlin Dunn, Ashan Ariyawansa Galabada Dewage, Robert Draham, and Nicholas Takaki started brainstorming last fall and spent much of February and March preparing interactive experiments demonstrating the science of light. Jennifer Kruschwitz, assistant professor of optics and color science expert, was their faculty advisor on the project. You can read more here about the project and the additional support it received from students at Monroe Community College and RIT.

And congratulations as well to Danielle Benoit, associate professor of biomedical engineering. This coming weekend marks the 10th year in a row that Danielle and mentees from her lab will hold their fundraiser in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and its efforts to cure childhood cancer. You can donate online or drop by the lab’s lemonade stand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Rochester Public Market, 280 Union Street North, or from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at the Brighton Farmers Market, 1150 Winton Road South.

Two of our biomedical engineering faculty members, Edward Brown and Michael Giacomelli, will join Bradley Turner of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in a discussion of advances in biomedical imaging techniques at the PONS (Pre-doctoral Organization for the Neurosciences) Luncheon Roundtable at noon next Monday, June 24, in Medical Center Specialty Room 2-7544. Though this event is geared towards grad/med students, all are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Have a great week!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman