High speed modulator design and characterization".

The rapid growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data-intensive applications is driving an unprecedented demand for energy-efficient optical interconnect technologies. Optical modulators are among the most power-critical components in photonic transceivers, motivating the development of devices that combine low driving voltage, low optical loss, high bandwidth, and long-term reliability. This PhD will investigate next-generation heterogeneous electro-optic modulators by exploring innovative material platforms, device architectures, and photonic integration schemes compatible with large-scale silicon photonics manufacturing. The research will encompass device modeling, design, fabrication, and experimental characterization, with a focus on understanding the trade-offs between energy efficiency, modulation performance, footprint, and operational stability. The ultimate goal is to establish a technology roadmap for ultra-efficient optical modulators that enable scalable, low-power optical communication systems for future data center, computing, and communication infrastructures.