Hugo de Waardt

Hugo de Waardt is an Associate Professor and track leader of high-capacity trunk transmission within the ECO group at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

His key areas of expertise include:

• Telecommunication engineering
• Optical communication
• Optical amplifiers
• Opto-electronic transmitters and receivers
• High capacity fibre-optic transmission

Hugo's research interest has always been in trying to reach the highest possible transmission capacity, initially using high speed direct laser modulation in combination with optical pre-amplified detection. Later, he researched wavelength division multiplexing technologies and optical time domain multiplexing, eventually exploring few mode transmission in combination with coherent detection. His research fingerprint shows strong activity in transmission engineering (100%), multiplexing physics (40%), photonics physics (28%), warm dark matter physics (22%), mode fiber engineering (21%), modulation format physics (20%), phase shift keying physics (16%), and digital signal processing physics (15%).

His recent publications demonstrate a continued focus on high-capacity optical transmission systems, with research spanning from fundamental optical fiber technologies to practical implementations in data center networks and metro systems. The work shows progression from traditional single-mode systems to more advanced spatial mode multiplexing techniques.

Hugo de Waardt has held significant leadership roles:

• Since 2012: Coordinator of the post-doctoral engineering programme in ICT
• Since 2016: Director Graduate Program at the faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Project leader of Freeband Broadband Photonics (2004-2008)
• Task manager in the SmartMix MEMPHIS program (2006-2012)

He has coordinated TU/e participation in ACTS Upgrade, ACTS BLISS, ACTS APEX and IST FASHION, and has been involved in FP7 ICT projects MODE-GAP and IDEALIST. His projects portfolio includes Pan-European Photonics Task Force, BONE, MEMPHIS ECO, and FASHION: Ultrafast switching in high-speed networks, demonstrating sustained contribution to the field over nearly two decades.