Azad Siahmakoun

Dr. Azad Siahmakoun is Professor of Physics and Optical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, serving as Founding Director of Micro-Nanoscale Devices & Systems Facilities, Associate Dean of Faculty, and Director of Graduate Studies. His $6.4 million in research funding from federal/state agencies and industry supports state-of-the-art facilities including the MiNDS Cleanroom and RF Photonics Laboratory.

Educational Background:

• PhD in Physics, University of Arkansas (1987)
• MS in Physics, Texas A&I University (1981)
• BS in Physics, Joundi Shapoor University (1978)

His research integrates photonics, MEMS, and nanotechnology with emphasis on silicon photonics, optical data conversion, and beamforming systems. Work spans plasmonic nanostructures, photorefractive materials, and chaotic systems, advancing both fundamental science and practical applications in optical engineering and signal processing.

Publication analysis reveals sustained focus on photonic data converters (2015-2009), with earlier work on optical beamforming (2005-2003) and nanophotonic materials (2008-2002). The corpus demonstrates consistent innovation in microwave photonics, optical signal processing, and MEMS fabrication across four decades.

Key recognitions include:

• Board of Trustees Outstanding Scholar Award (1999)
• SPIE Fellow (2009)
• ONR Senior Fellow (2007)
• OSA Senior Member

Dr. Siahmakoun has mentored over 100 undergraduate researchers and dozens of master's students. His $6.4 million in grants enabled establishment of critical research infrastructure at Rose-Hulman, supporting both educational and industrial collaboration initiatives.

He directs three core facilities: Micro-Nano Device and Systems (MiNDS) lab for nanofabrication, Nonlinear Optics lab for fundamental photonics research, and Center for Applied Optics Studies for industry-relevant optical engineering development.