Today’s guest is Rob Devlin, the Co-founder, and CEO of Metalenz. In this episode, we journey through the innovative landscape of optical semiconductor technology. Metalenz, a pioneering company in this field, is not just tweaking the existing technology but is revolutionizing how we perceive and utilize optics in everyday life. From the screens of our smartphones to the depths of scientific exploration, Metalenz is reshaping the foundation of how we interact with light and vision.
Rob brings an impressive portfolio of 15 patents to the table, a testament to his and his team’s groundbreaking work. Their journey from academic excellence to industry pioneers is a story of transforming scientific research into real-world marvels. With a background that spans prestigious institutions like Drexel and Harvard University, Rob’s expertise in nanofabrication, nanophotonics, and material science shines through in this conversation.
Prepare to be fascinated as Rob explains Metalenz’s unique approach to optics, transcending the traditional by compressing the functionality of multiple lenses into a singular flat and planar layer. This is not just about miniaturization; it’s about unleashing new capabilities, accessing information our eyes and conventional cameras miss, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in technology.
How does this shift in optical technology impact us on both an industry and individual level? What does the future hold in a world where our devices offer more than what meets the eye? Rob shares his insights on these questions and more, providing a window into a future where the power of meta-optics transforms our interaction with the world.
Name: Rob Devlin
Title: Co-founder and CEO of Metalenz
Company: Metalenz
Rob Devlin is Co-founder and CEO of Metalenz. He holds a joint BS/MS in Electrical Engineering and Materials Science at Drexel University and a Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Harvard University in the lab of Professor Federico Capasso. His research has spanned the topics of nanofabrication, nanophotonics and materials science. He has authored or co-authored 20+ publications, one of which was selected as the cover of Science Journal and voted one of Science’s 10 breakthroughs of the year in 2016. These publications have provided many critical advances and first demonstrations in the emerging field of metasurfaces including the first demonstration of high efficiency metasurfaces throughout the visible spectrum.
His work focuses on moving scientific research toward real-world applications leading to 15 patents and patent applications. In addition to enabling emerging fields, the work of his team at Metalenz will introduce entirely new forms of optical sensing into consumer electronics markets.
