Speakers
Speakers’ bios and abstracts below appear in order of their presentation according to the agenda.
Underneath student names is a link to a very short survey to review their presentation. We strongly encourage Industrial Affiliates members to complete these short surveys to give feedback to the students.
Workshop Presenters
Five-Minute Rapid Fire Presenters
Lab Tours
Poster Presenters
Workshop Presenters
Keynote Speaker
Cat Merrill
Title:
Risky Business: A discussion of development paradigms for space programs
Bio:
Mrs. Merrill has over 20 years of experience in the optical field both in the private and public spheres. She currently serves as the Director of Space Telescope Programs for Steward Observatory at The University of Arizona. Prior to this, Cat was an owner and CFO at Ruda Optical, has worked at NOAO, managed the GMT Primary Mirror Segments at Steward Observatory and served as the Deputy PM and Lead Engineer for OCAMS on the OSIRIS-Rex mission. Cat started her career at Raytheon Missile Systems where she worked on the EKV and SM-3 sensor and seeker teams as well as in the Discrimination Product Center. Mrs. Merrill is originally from Racine Wisconsin. She received a B.S in Physics from NAU and earned her M.S. in Optics from UA in 2005. She studied under Dr. Kurt Thome and did her research on image processing and vicarious calibration techniques. Mrs. Merrill’s working legacy is a history of educational philanthropic efforts including work with MESA, JobPath, OSIRIS-Rex Ambassadors, Women United, Girl Scouts, and as part of the Women United Global Leadership Council.
Cristian Panda, Assistant Professor of Optical Sciences
Title:
Quantum Metrology and Sensing using Atoms and Molecules
Abstract:
Exceptional levels of quantum control and coherence are necessary for performing quantum metrology and sensing with the utmost precision. Atom interferometers are powerful in both probing fundamental physics and everyday sensing, with results that range from the measurement of fundamental constants and tests of general relativity to the quantum sensing of gravity and inertial effects in the field for geophysical, defense and industrial applications. However, the use of atoms in free fall has so far limited their measurement times to a few seconds.
Bio:
Cristian Panda is an Assistant Professor at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences (OSC) at the University of Arizona. He received his undergraduate degree in Physics from Reed College with his thesis titled “The role of delay in the isochronal chaos synchronization of delay-coupled opto-electronic oscillators”. He then earned his A.M. and Ph.D. at Harvard University searching for physics beyond the Standard Model as part of the ACME experiment, where he measured the electron’s electric dipole moment with record precision enabled by the huge electric field available in the thorium monoxide molecule. From 2019 to 2024, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California Berkeley, where he developed an interferometer with atoms held against Earth’s gravity by an optical lattice. This device was able to achieve quantum coherence beyond the minute scale and record sensitivity to measuring exotic dark energy candidate fields. Dr. Panda is an APS DAMOP Deborah Jin Thesis Prize Finalist, 2021, and has received the Purcell Fellowship, Harvard University, 2012-2013. He has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature, Science, Physical Review, Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Physics and others. His community involvement includes multiple organization memberships, acting as a reviewer for a wide range of academic journals, as well as mentoring and teaching students outside of the classroom at all levels, including undergraduate, high school and middle school.
Mark Spencer, Robert M. Edmund Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences, Professor of Optical Sciences
Title:
High Energy Laser Perspectives from a Former Government Leader and Current Academic Researcher
Abstract:
Since 2019, the Military Services have developed several high energy laser (HEL) prototype systems in support of the near- and mid-term goals of the Department of War Directed Energy Roadmap. Currently, the most sophisticated prototypes under development are the HEL Counter Anti-ship-cruise-missile Program (HELCAP) being funded by the Office of Naval Research and the Indirect Fire Protection Capability HEL (IFPC-HEL) being funded by the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. Both prototypes are scheduled for field demos in FY26 in support of Golden Dome for America. Based on lessons learned from HELCAP and IFPC-HEL, one significant challenge that remains for future prototype systems is the timely integration of continuous-wave HEL sources at >100 kW-class power levels. A lot of these integration challenges can be overcome with enough time and funding; however, they can also be overcome with innovation. Either option will require an experienced workforce, and that is the point of this talk—to start a discussion on how the University of Arizona can help our industrial affiliates with respect to this cause.
Bio:
Mark F. Spencer is a Professor of Optical Sciences and the inaugural holder of the Robert M. Edmund Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences within the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona. At large, he is a scientist/engineer who has spent his career working in various technical and administrative capacities. Mark began his career at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate (2014-2021) after receiving his PhD from the Air Force Institute of Technology as a SMART Scholar. Before taking his current role in academia, he served as a Directed Energy Staff Specialist at Headquarters US Indo-Pacific Command (2021-2023), as well as Director of the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office and Principal Director (Senior Official) for Directed Energy within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon (2023-2025). Mark is an internationally recognized expert in directed energy (specifically, beam control and propagation for laser systems) and currently conducts research in unconventional imaging, sensing, and adaptive optics for defense and commercial applications. He is a Senior Member of Optica and a Fellow of SPIE.
Yeran Bai, Assistant Professor of Optical Sciences
Title:
Uncovering single cell function with mid infrared photothermal microscopy
Abstract:
TBD
Bio:
TBD
Clarissa DeLeon, Graduate Student
Title:
Relating Atmospheric Turbidity to Sky Neutral Point Location
Abstract:
The Polarization Lab has developed the Ultraviolet Linear Stokes Imaging Polarimeter, a ground-based instrument that scans the sky to measure polarized light in the atmosphere. The focus of this work is tracking the location of the sky polarization neutral points, regions where light is randomly polarized due to multiple scattering in the atmosphere. The locations of the neutral points change with observation wavelength, diurnal and seasonal variations of the location of the Sun, and atmospheric turbidity. By performing longitudinal observations of the sky neutral point locations, this research explores the utility of monitoring perturbations in the diurnal trajectory of the sky polarization neutral points as indicators of changes in atmospheric turbidity. This talk will provide an overview of the project and showcase results from a summer field deployment in Bozeman, Montana.
Bio:
Clarissa earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Optics and Photonics from Montana State University before starting her PhD at the University of Arizona. She currently works on the Ultraviolet Linear Stokes Imaging Polarimeter (ULTRASIP) project in the Polarization Lab. A proud Latina, Clarissa aspires to become a professor and advocate for Latinx representation in STEM. Her research interests focus on advancing optical techniques for environmental monitoring. Outside of academia, she enjoys crocheting, hiking, and reading.
Alana Gonzales, Graduate Student
Title:
An Accessory Endoscope for Performing Optical Coherence Tomography and Elastography for Early Stomach Cancer Detection
Abstract:
Changes in tissue architecture and increased tissue stiffness are characteristic of stomach cancer, and we have demonstrated the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and elastography (OCE) to visualize these changes in ex vivo samples of human stomach tissue. This work now aims to devise a miniature accessory endoscope for performing OCT and OCE in patients to improve sensitivity of stomach cancer screening, especially at early stages of disease.
Bio:
Alana G. Gonzales is an Optical Sciences PhD student at the University of Arizona. She is a member of the Tissue Optics Lab led by Dr. Jennifer Barton. She earned a B.A. in Engineering from Scripps College, a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Arizona, and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. Her research interests include endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT), optical coherence elastography (OCE), and early detection of cancer.
Five-Minute Rapid Fire Presenters
| Presentation Time | Presenter – First Name | Presenter – Last Name | 5-Minute Rapid Fire Presentation Title |
Lab Tours
Image Science
Faculty: Yeran Bai
Biomedical Applied Imaing Lab
Faculty: David Brady
High resolution color imaging
Faculty: Dongkyun Kang
Translational Optical Imaging Lab
Faculty: Florian Willomitzer
Structured Light 3D Imaging for Industrial Inspection, Medical Imaging, and AR/VR
Faculty: Florian Willomitzer
Synthetic Wavelength Imaging and Holographic Wavefront Shaping & Sensing
Optical Engineering
Faculty: Jennifer Barton
Tissue Optics Lab
Faculty: Ronal Driggers
Infrared Imaging Group
Faculty: Yuzuru Takashima
Takashima Advanced Lidar and Display Lab
Optical Physics
Faculty: Cristian Panda
Quantum Sensing and Metrology
Faculty: Dalziel Wilson
Quantum Optomechanics Lab
Photonics
Faculty: Xiushan Zhi
Single-frequency Fiber Lasers