Laser Teaching Center Alumni

Summer 2013 marks the Laser Teaching Center's 15th year in operation. Below are a few remarks from some of our LTC alumni about what they're up to these days and what they had gained from their LTC experiences.


Pradyoth Kukkapalli

2010 LTC Simons Fellow

Creating Dark Lines in Space with Linear Zone Plates

Currently: Undergraduate at Cornell University '15

Studying Computer Science

“I would say that I gained a lot from working at the LTC. My research and experience at the LTC opened up so many other opportunities. For me personally it was a fundamental building block in my academic career. I have been able to participate in a top notch research program at Cornell, and been able to take part in great internships these past two summers. Working at the LTC simply made me a better student, researcher, and even writer. It just allowed me to improve myself in so many ways, while preparing me for future challenges.”



Dennis Chen

2009 LTC Independent High School Student Researcher

Frustrated total internal reflection and the evanescent wave

Currently: Undergraduate at Princeton University '14

Studying Mechanical and Aerospace Enginering

"The last two summers, I've been working in a lab that engineers various methods/equipment to find, image, and perform spectroscopy on exoplanets. So it's actually all optics, but with the engineering aspect of R&D also. Having my high school experience from the LTC has certainly helped me out and was a good talking point when trying to convince the professor to take me on. The LTC also taught me how to talk science with others and with those significantly more knowledgeable than me, a definite adjustment I've had to make since high school."



Jose Mawyin

2001-03 Stony Brook Research Student

Studied CCD cameras, formation of interference fringes with polarized light, excitation of metastable helium, simulation of optical Bloch equations, 1083nm beam flattening

Postdoc at the University of Sheffield in the UK

Developing new renewable energy technologies in the organic electronics research group

"My scientific track started with that project on CCD cameras back in 2001 and now I'm working as a postdoc for the University of Sheffield."



Eric Tompkins

2004 Stony Brook Researcher Student

Creating Dark Lines in Space with Linear Zone Plates

Currently: High School Physics Teacher

Gen. Douglas Macarthur Senior High School (Levittown, NY)

“I hope to introduce my new students to the LTC in the beginning of this year to spark interest and show what great topics and opportunities are out there for those who are motivated.”



Jon Wu

2004 LTC Simons Fellow

Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

Currently: Private Equity Associate at Bain Capital

“I'm currently in Boston working for Bain Capital, but optical physics has crept into my life at various points. We pursued an investment recently in a company launching next-generation weather satellites and I was able to talk Fourier transforms with the head meteorologist briefly.
Please wish the best of luck to the most recent class of [LTC] graduates. They are exceptionally lucky to have had the experience.”