Stephen Hughes

Stephen Hughes is a Full Professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at Queen’s University, Canada. He holds appointments in the Faculty of Arts and Science and is affiliated with the Centre for Nanophotonics. His research focuses on theoretical and computational nanophotonics, quantum optics, and light-matter interactions. He has co-founded Lumerical Solutions, a leading photonics software company acquired by ANSYS in 2020, and has held postdoctoral positions in Germany, Japan, and the U.S.

Education: PhD (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh), Postdoctoral work at NTT Basic Research Labs (Japan) and others. Industry Experience: Co-founder of Lumerical and Galian Photonics.

Research interests include quantum photonics, nanophotonics, semiconductor optics, photonic crystals, cavity-QED, quantum dots, and topological photonics. His group explores applications in quantum technologies, optomechanics, and metamaterials. Collaborations span global institutions, focusing on both fundamental physics and applied nanophotonics.

Labs/Groups: The Hughes Group (Theoretical Quantum and Nanophotonics) operates a state-of-the-art computational lab funded by CFI and MRI Ontario. Current projects involve inverse design techniques, ultrastrong coupling regimes, and quantum trajectory simulations.