Christopher T. Middlebrook

Christopher T. Middlebrook is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan Technological University (MTU), with an affiliated appointment in the Physics department. He holds a visiting faculty research engineer position at Scientific Applications International Corporation (SAIC) supporting the DoD Executive Agent for Printed Circuits and has served as visiting faculty at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane (2016–2020). His expertise spans integrated optical devices, electronic substrate manufacturing, and photonics. Middlebrook leads the Plexus Innovation Laboratory, a campus electronics maker space, and has pioneered PCB fabrication education through courses and media contributions.

Education: PhD in Optics from the University of Central Florida, MS in Applied Optics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and BS in Electrical Engineering from MTU. His research focuses on electro-optic polymers, optoelectronic integration, and advanced manufacturing techniques. He has published 49 papers, holds two patents, and secured grants totaling over $970K, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation-funded 'Back-End Semiconductor Curriculum' initiative (2024).

Research highlights include developing UV resin printer methods for PCB prototyping, optimizing polymer waveguides, and advancing quantum communication technologies. Awards include the HKN Professor of the Year (multiple years), Michigan Tech Graduate Mentor Award, and IPC Carano Teacher Excellence Award. His work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing hands-on learning and innovation.

• Key Grants:
  • Back-End Semiconductor Curriculum for Advanced Substrates: $970K (2024)
  • Mesosphere Observation Mission (MOMBO): $38K (2022–2023)
• Labs/Teams: Plexus Innovation Lab, MTU's Electronics Maker Space
• Courses Taught: EE2230 PCB Fabrication, EE3190 Optical Sensing, EE5500 Stochastic Processes, and 15+ others emphasizing photonics and optoelectronics.