Undergrad's optical systems research published in Science

Friday, June 17, 2016

originally published on the Waterloo Engineering website

Nanotechnology engineering student Jaewon Oh was part of breakthrough research that could lead to advances in miniaturized optical systems.

During an eight-month co-op position with the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the third-year Waterloo Engineering student worked as part of the team that created the first high-end optical lens on the nanoscale level that has widespread applications in laser-based microscopy, imaging, and spectroscopy.

The team’s findings were published in the June 2 issue of the prestigious journal Science. The research could lead to better control over finer structures in microchips anywhere a meta-lens might be needed, including smartphones, regular cameras and microscopes.

This is Oh’s second attributed contribution in an academic paper. The first was also published during his co-op research term by the same research group, but for a different application of metalenses. 

In Oh's first co-op job, he worked on genetic engineering research within Waterloo. Oh hopes that his next co-op position in September will include research work in another field to help him determine his future field of study as he plans for graduate studies.