This edition features Host Justine Murphy's chat with Dr. Brian Monacelli, a professor and director of Laser Technology at Pasadena City College in California. He’s also a Principal Optical Engineer and supervisor of the Optical Implementation group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

They recently discussed things like the importance of training technicians in hands-on laboratory skills, and he also offered some perspectives on the future of optics and the crucial role technicians will play.

This episode features a technical conversation about co-packaged optics, the rapid rise of interest in this technology, and why active alignment is a major manufacturing bottleneck in photonics. The discussion, sponsored by Aerotech, focuses on the company’s new PICAlign approach, developed in collaboration with SENKO and Santec, which aims to improve throughput, quality, and efficiency in optical device assembly.

Talking with Host Justine Murphy, Aerotech Business Development Manager Justin Bressi explains how monitoring multiple optical channels at once and searching in all six degrees of freedom can improve alignment outcomes and reduce scrap.

The conversation also touches on the broader data center and semiconductor ecosystem, where demand for faster, more efficient photonic systems is driving new investment and partnerships.

Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting things happening in the photonics industry!

Host Justine Murphy talked recently with Dr. Judy Wu, the Thomas A. Albright Professor of Chemistry at the University of Houston, where her work has included computational quantum chemistry to study light-activated chemistry.

They discussed her work as a computational and organic chemist and professor, unconventional ways to boost the next generation of scientists, and her contributions toward bridging theory with real-world application.

Here is an interesting interview Host Justine Murphy had recently with Kevin McComber, co-founder and CEO of Spark Photonics Design, and co-founder and executive director of Spark Photonics Foundation, a nonprofit STEM education, workforce development, and outreach organization.

He talked about his engineering background and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as his thoughts on the education and workforce initiatives he calls crucial for the future of STEM.

This episode features Vivek Raghunathan, co-founder and CEO of Xscape Photonics, a Columbia University spinoff focused on silicon photonics and AI.

He has nearly two decades of experience in the silicon photonics sector, including at Intel.

In this chat, he talks with Host Justine Murphy about Xscape Photonics and its innovative work, as well as the role silicon photonics will play in the future of AI.

Jennifer Cable, president of Thorlabs, talked recently with Host Justine Murphy about the company's role in the industry, as well as building an inclusive culture and enhancing employee engagement, while also investing in advanced manufacturing technology and infrastructure.

Here's a roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting things happening in the photonics industry!