The Team

Prof. Frederic Gardes (Head of Group)

Frederic Gardes is a professor at the Optoelectronic Research Centre at the University of Southampton in the UK. He leads the Integrated Photonics Group, focusing on the integration of various CMOS and non-CMOS photonic materials on silicon, providing a pathway toward monolithic integration. His research background encompasses CMOS photonics, high-speed active optical devices, compound materials, and mid-index waveguides. Prof. Gardes has authored more than 300 publications in the field of silicon photonics, including multiple patents. Additionally, he is a member of several international conference program committees.  A full publication list can be found on Google Scholar.
Email address: f.gardes@soton.ac.uk

Dr. Thalia Bucio Dominguez (Senior Research fellow)

T. Domínguez Bucio was born in Mexico City, Mexico. She received the B. S. degree in electronic and computer engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM), Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico, in 2012 and the M.Sc. in photonic technologies from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K. in 2013. She has completed her Ph.D. degree in optoelectronics at the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K. In 2018, she joined the group at the University of Southampton as a research fellow. Her research interests cover the development of a new material platform consisting of silicon nitride photonic applications.
Email address: t.dominguez_bucio@soton.ac.uk

Dr Ilias Skandalos (Research fellow)

Ilias Skandalos was born in Larisa, Greece, in 1993. He graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), where he received an integrated BSc and MSc degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He joined the group in 2019 as a Ph.D. student. His research interests lie on the field of the monolithic co-integration of active components with micrometric Silicon Nitride waveguides towards fully integrated applications including lasers and modulators. In his free time, he likes cooking, playing basketball and also travelling.
Email address: is1f19@soton.ac.uk

Dr Ipsita Chakraborty (Research fellow)

Ipsita Chakraborty was born in Kolkata, India. She joined the group in 2021 as a visiting postgraduate research fellow and commonwealth split-site scholar. Her research interests lie in design and development of energy-bandwidth efficient on-chip integrated modulators, by integrating silicon or silicon nitride waveguides with novel materials such as graphene and ITO. Apart from research, she has keen interest in photography, and likes to travel and explore new places.
Email address: i.chakraborty@soton.ac.uk

Dr Michelle Paprella (Research fellow)

Michele obtained his M.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering (2020) from the Polytechnic University of Bari and his Ph.D. (2023) from the University of Montpellier and the Polytechnic University of Bari as part of the Marie Curie Double Doctorate OPTAPHI (OPTical sensing using Advanced PHoto-Induced effects) European Training Network. His project focused on the monolithic integration of GaSb-based semiconductor lasers on silicon platform and light coupling in passive waveguides. He is currently a Research Fellow at the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton working on the integration process of InAs/GaAs quantum dot laser on silicon.

Dr Xingshi Yu  (Research fellow)
 Xingshi Yu is born in Hubei China. He joined the group in 2022 after he finished his PhD in Silicon Photonics Group, University of Southampton. His research interest is AI, sensing and communication applications of integrated photonics on Si/SiN platfrom.

Elliot Sandell (Research Technician)
Elliot Sandell is a Research Technician in Frederic Gardes’ Integrated Photonics Group at the University of Southampton. After earning his Master’s of Physics (MPhys) from the University of Portsmouth in 2020, Elliot gained valuable experience in the pharmaceutical industry, honing his cleanroom expertise. Now, at the University of Southampton, he plays a key role across multiple projects, specializing in cleanroom fabrication, laboratory management, process organization, and contributing to the group’s cutting-edge research in photonics.

Afrooz Shoaa  (Ph.D. Student)

Afrooz is the newest member of the team, having completed her MSc with distinction in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Portsmouth University in 2020. Her PhD field, under the supervision of Prof. Frederic Gardes and Dr. Ioannis Zeimpekis-Karakonstantinos , will be in the development of non-volatile photonic memories, focusing on device simulation and design, followed by process development and fabrication of innovative integrated photonic circuits. Afrooz enjoys practising Persian cuisine, walking in the countryside, jogging and visiting historic sites and cities.
Email address: a.shoaa@soton.ac.uk

 Qian Zhang  (Ph.D. Student)

Qian Zhang was born in Shaanxi Province, China. She received the B. S. degree in microelectronics from Northwest University, Xi’an, China, in 2018 and the Master degree from Xidian University, Xi’an, China, in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Group IV photonics group, ORC, under the supervision of Prof. Frederic Gardes and Dr. Thalia Bucio Dominguez. Her research interests focus on developing non-linear activation photonic elements for implementing neural networks in the area of neuromorphic photonics. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and playing tennis.
Email address: qian.zhang@soton.ac.uk

Lifeng Bao  (Ph.D. Student)

Lifeng Bao was born in Zhejiang Province, China. He received the B. S. degree in Optical Information Science and Technology in 2016 and the M. Eng. in Optical Engineering in 2019. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Silicon Photonics at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton. His research interests focus on the monolithic integration of on-chip light sources for photonic integrated circuits.
 

Isaac Johnson  (Ph.D. Student)
Isaac Johnson graduated with a BEng in Electronic Engineering from University of Southampton in 2023 then joined the group as a PhD student shortly afterwards. His research interests include integration of phase change materials in neuromorphic photonic circuits. In his free time he like making curry, playing piano and ancient history.

Email address: ij1g20@soton.ac.uk

Qianbin Luo  (Ph.D. Student)
 Qianbin Luo graduated from the University of Southampton in 2022 with a degree in Electronic Engineering. After working as a Chip Verification Engineer for a year and a half, he joined this research group. He is currently focused on developing testing methods for photonic chips as part of the Photonic Memory project. His research interests include the interaction between photonics and electronics, the design of optoelectronic systems, and the application of optoelectronic systems in neural network computing. Qianbin is an avid aviation enthusiast with a deep passion for all things related to aviation and global economy.

Theodore Rangarajan (Ph.D. Student)

Theo Rangarajan, is a first year PhD student in the group. he is currently working on new use cases for monolithically integrated laser in silicon photonics and VLSI electronics. He is am also working to establish a robust testing system for current and future photonic ICs. This is all aimed at developing new and improved neuromorphic photonic systems applicable across tech. He did his undergrad at Southampton as well, specializing in semiconductor design including nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. 

Dr Greta De Paoli

Greta obtained an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering with a focus in Photonics from the University of Padova (Italy) in 2019. She joined the Group IV Photonics group first during her Erasmus exchange for her Master’s project, and then as a PhD student under the supervision of Dr Frederic Gardes. Her research interests focused on the tunability of the silicon nitride platform and on plasmonic modulators based on transparent conductive oxides. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, baking and eating the results, but she also loves going on long walks in the countryside.
She graduated in with a PhD from the ORC in 2024 and has joined Salience Labs as a photonics engineer

Dr. Katarzyna Grabska 

Kasia was born in Poland. She received the B.E. and M.Sc. degree in applied physics at the Gdansk University of Technology in Poland. In 2016 she joined the group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton as a PhD student. She received her Ph.D. degree in 2020 and shortly joined the Silicon Photonics group at the University of Southampton as a Research Fellow before joining Microsoft as a process Engineer . She enjoys travelling and photography.

Dr. Joaquin Faneca 

Joaquin Faneca received the B.S degree in physics from the Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain, in 2015, and the M.Sc. degree in novel photonics and electronics technologies from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, in 2016. He received his Ph.D. degree with the University of Exeter, Exeter, U.K., in tunable silicon photonics-based on functional materials. In 2020 he joined our group at the University of Southampton as a Research Fellow and then Joined IMB-CNM in Barcelona Spain to pursue his career as a researcher. His research interests lie in the development of reconfigurable photonic integrated platforms based on smart materials for optical communication applications. In his free time, he plays football and tennis, he also likes photography and traveling.

Dr. Yasir Noori

Yasir has completed his PhD in quantum communications at Lancaster University after having been awarded a prestigious Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) studentship. His PhD work led to one patent, multiple high impact journal publications and conference awards. He then spent 1 year as a post-doctoral researcher where he demonstrated GaAs particle detectors as an upgrade to the traditional Si detectors of the ATLAS experiment. In 2018, Yasir joined the EPSRC programme “Advanced Devices by Electroplating” (ADEPT) as a Research Fellow at the University of Southampton. In ADEPT, where he developed the electroplating method for phase change memory systems and 2D material heterostructure photodetectors. In 2020, Yasir joined another EPSRC programme, “QUantum Dots On Silicon for communication, information processing and sensing (QUDOS)” as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton.  He has now obtained a lectureship position at the University of Southampton.

Google Scholar
Email address: y.j.noori@southampton.ac.uk

Dr. Yaonan Hou

Dr. Yaonan Hou received his PhD degree in Condensed Matter Physics from Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics) in 2012. Afterwards, he joined department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Sheffield (home to National Epitaxy Facility, formerly EPSCRC Center for III-V Technology), as a Research Associate (transferred to an open-end position at 2016) in III-nitride semiconductor photonic devices. In 2017, he moved to the research in group IV photonic materials at Innovation for High-Performance Microelectronics (known as IHP, a research institute belongs to Leibniz Association in Germany) as a Scientist. In 2019, he started the research in toroidal electrodynamics at ORC, University of Southampton as a Research Fellow. Afterwards, he joined the research project of “QUantum Dots On Silicon for communication, information processing and sensing (QUDOS)” in 2021. So far, he published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers including 2 topical review, 1 book chapter and several Chinese patents, with a total citation >800 times and H index of 13. He has now Joined Swansea University as a Senior Lecturer (Yaonan Hou – Swansea University) to pursue his research career on photonic integration of wide bandgap semiconductor

Dr Teerapat Rutirawut

He obtained B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics from Mahidol University, Thailand, and he joined the Silicon Photonics group at the University of Southampton as a Ph.D. student in September 2016 with funding support by the Royal Thai Government. His research is in the field of silicon nitride photonics, focusing on the development of active photonic devices on a SiN photonic platform. He graduated in 2020 with a PhD from the ORC and stayed in the group as a research fellow until 2022. He now joined Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand to pursue his research career.

Dr Stefan Ilie 

Stefan received his MEng degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Southampton in 2018. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Silicon Photonics Group, ORC under the supervision of Dr. Frederic Gardes and Prof. Harold Chong, focusing on the development of a range of devices using silicon nitride for light manipulation on-chip and off plane beam collimation and steering. Applications for the development of this technology target LIDAR, LIFI and remote sensing. He graduated in 2022 with a PhD from the University of Southampton and his now pursuing an entrepreneurial career as Co-Founder and CTO of POM Health.

Dr. Lorenzo Mastronardi 

Lorenzo graduated in Electronic Engineering in Politecnico di Bari (Italy). In 2015, he has joined the Group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) in the University of Southampton as a PhD student. He completed his PhD in 2019, after having successfully demonstrated an innovative electro-absorption photonics modulator on the silicon platform. He joined the group as a research fellow in 2019 to develop further the activity of electro-absorption photonics modulators. He has now joined smart photonics in Eindhoven, Netherlands as a Senior PDK Engineer. Apart from Photonics, his main activities include sports, photography, cooking and travelling.

Dr. Alexandre Bazin 

Alexandre Bazin was born in Saint-Denis, France, in 1982. He received in 2009 a Master in Quantum Devices and Nanosystems from Universite Paris-Diderot (Paris 7), France. He then carried out from 2009 to 2013 his Ph.D. work on Hybrid SOI/III-V photonic crystal nanolasers in Marcoussis, France, at the Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures (CNRS). From August 2013 to March 2014, he worked as a post-doc researcher at the University of Tokyo on thermoelectric applications using a silicon phononic approach. Between 2014 and 2016 he worked for the photonic department at Intec to work on optomechanics using the Silicon-On-Insulator platform and on 2D materials applications in collaboration with IMEC. In 2017 he joined the Group to co-ordinate the COSMICC EU project on SiNx circuit and SiGe EAM modulators in collaboration industrial partners such as ST microelectronics, or FINISSAR. She has now joined Ligentec France as a Senior Design Engineer

Dr. Nannicha Hattasan

Nannicha Hattasan obtained her Ph.D. in heterogeneous integration of III-V on Si photonics circuit from Photonics research group-imec, Ghent University, Belgium in 2014. She then joined as a postdoctoral researcher at Tyndall National Institute, Ireland to work on the development of highly sensitive Ge/Si photodiodes using direct bonding approach. She has been a research fellow at the Optoelectronics Research Centre at University of Southampton, developing fabrication process for SiGe modulators in collaboration with Rockley Photonics. She is also co-ordinating COSMICC EU project on SiNx circuit designs in collaboration with ST microelectronics, CEA Leti and Université Paris-Sud. Her research interest includes heterogeneous integration and Si Photonics. She has now joined Huawei in Ipswich Uk as a process Architect.

Dr. Daniel Burt 

Daniel Burt completed his Ph.D. in the field of germanium light sources. He has been working on a range of structures aimed at enhancing light emission in germanium through strain. Linked in

Prof Callum Littlejohns 

Prof. Callum Littlejohns completed his Ph.D. in our group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton in March 2015, having previously obtained a First Class Honours degree in Electronic Engineering at the University of Surrey. He has now begun his career as a Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, but remains part of the Silicon Photonics group as a visitor. He has a track record of excellence, having received multiple awards throughout his academic life, including the Information Overload category winner at the 2015 EPSRC ICT Pioneers Award and the runner-up prize in the Best Student Poster award at the 2014 Optoelectronics Research Centre Photonics Day.

He is now leader of the CORNERSTONE open source, license free Silicon Photonics rapid prototyping foundry operating from the Universities of Southampton & Glasgow in the UK, and the Grant Manager for the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre.
Email address: c.littlejohns@soton.ac.uk 

Dr. Mehdi Banakar

Mehdi received his bachelor’s degree in 2005 and a Master degree with distinction from the University of Southampton in 2008. His PhD at University of Southampton was in Sub-micron texturing for photovoltaic antireflection and light-trapping, he has explored 3 novel anti-reflection schemes based on sub-micron scale texturing of silicon and received his degree in 2015. He has a strong background in photovoltaic, extensive experience with micro/nanofabrication processes. Mehdi joined the Group in 2015 to explore optical modulation/detection and integration. He is now
Email address: m.banakar@soton.ac.uk

Dr. Abdelrahman Al-Attili 

Dr. Abdelrahman Al-Attili was born in Jordan, he completed his Ph.D. in the field of Silicon Photonics in the department of electronics and computer science, University of Southampton in 2016. He successfully demonstrated a range of structures aimed at enhancing light emission in germanium through strain and n-type doping. Upon graduation he has obtained a lectureship at Al-Hussein Technical University in Jordan to pursue his academic career.

Email address: abdattili@ieee.org