Jonathan Hu

Dr. Jonathan Hu is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Baylor University's School of Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a PhD from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2008) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University (2009–2011). He is an active researcher in optics and photonics, leading the Photonics Research Laboratory and advising both graduate and undergraduate research assistants.

Research Interests:

• Nanophotonics and metamaterials for photovoltaic and biomedical applications
• Mid-IR supercontinuum generation using chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers
• 2D materials such as graphene and their alignment via magnetic fields
• Coherent optical communication and quantum optical Fredkin gates
• Numerical simulation of electromagnetic problems and leaky mode analysis

His recent publications (2019–2024) demonstrate a strong focus on quantum plasmonics, specialty optical fibers, optofluidics, and nonlinear optical phenomena, with high-impact work in journals like Science Advances, ACS Photonics, and Advanced Materials. The research shows a clear trend toward integrating photonics with 2D materials and quantum systems, with applications in sensing, communication, and materials characterization.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• 35 Baylor faculty named among top 2% most cited researchers (2023)
• Editor’s Pick, Journal of Applied Physics (2018)
• Top three downloads in OSA journals for three consecutive months (2009)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (awarded to advisee)
• Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad (awarded to advisee)
• Second Place in FiO + LS Student Competition (awarded to advisee)

Advising and Grants: Dr. Hu actively mentors students at all levels, with current graduate research assistants including Wei Zhang, Zhihao Hu, and Sterling Walzel. His lab is supported by external funding, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. He has advised PhD students such as Joshua Young, Chao Niu, and Chengli Wei, many of whom have gone on to successful academic and industry careers. His teaching includes core courses like EGR 1302, ELC 2320, and ELC 4320, as well as advanced topics in computational photonics and integrated photonics.

Labs and Teams: He leads the Photonics Research Laboratory at Baylor University, located at the BRIC facility. He is also involved with the Baylor University Optica Student Chapter, promoting optics outreach and networking among students and researchers.