About
Dr. David Benton is a Senior Research Fellow at the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AiPT), part of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University. He holds Chartered Physicist status and is a member of the Institute of Physics and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE). Prior to academia, he worked in industry roles such as Chief Scientist at L-3 TRL (2010–2014), Technical Leader at QinetiQ (2001–2009), and Senior Scientist at DERA (1998–2001). His research focuses on advancing free-space optical communications, laser detection, optical spectroscopy, and non-mechanical beam steering.
Dr. Benton’s work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between sectors. He has contributed to high-speed free-space optical systems, beaconless auto-alignment techniques, and multi-spectral LIDAR technologies. His research has been published in leading journals like Photonics and presented at conferences such as ECOC and SPIE. He actively engages in editorial roles (e.g., Photonics), peer-review activities, and consultancy, reflecting his commitment to advancing photonics applications.
- Professional Activities: Invited speaker (2024), editorial board member for Photonics (2023–2024), and consultant for Optical Tempest (2024).
- Contact: Room N613, +44 121 204 5311, d.benton@aston.ac.uk.
