David J. Thomson

Professor David J. Thomson is a Professorial Fellow in the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton, holding a prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship. He pioneers photonics research for computing applications and LIDAR systems, commanding over £10 million in research funding and leading a 12-member team focused on novel photonic device development and electronic integration.

Thomson's research centers on silicon photonics and optical computing, with critical advancements in high-speed optical modulators, photonic integrated circuits, and LIDAR technologies. His work drives innovations in programmable photonics using phase-change materials and the co-integration of photonic and electronic systems, enabling breakthroughs in energy-efficient data communication and next-generation computing architectures.

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a dominant focus on silicon photonics for ultra-high-speed optical interconnects, featuring programmable circuits with Sb2Se3 phase-change materials, 224 Gbaud transmitters, and MOSCAP ring modulators with sub-5nm insulators. These works collectively address bandwidth and energy challenges in data centers and high-performance computing through monolithic integration and novel material systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Royal Society University Research Fellowship

Thomson actively supervises eight PhD students across the ORC and Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, while managing substantial grants exceeding £10 million from the Royal Society, EPSRC, Horizon Europe, and Huawei Technologies. His projects include DOLORES (Digital Optical Computing Platform), Tunnel Epitaxy of III-V on Silicon, and PIXEurope, targeting revolutionary photonic integration for neural networks and communications.

He leads a specialized research team within the ORC's state-of-the-art facilities, focusing on photonic device design, fabrication, and characterization. This group collaborates on major European initiatives like Horizon Europe's DOLORES and PIXEurope, advancing silicon photonic platforms for optical computing and LIDAR applications.