Another Wavelength: Anwar Gatto

In this issue of Another Wavelength, we chat with optical sciences and engineering student Anwar Gatto. A member of the Class of 2028, Anwar is pursuing a BS in Optical Sciences and Engineering with minors in Mathematics and Materials Science. He shares her academic journey and summer experiences as a student at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences. 

Image

How did you secure your internship with Corning Advanced Optics?

I was approached by a Corning Manager at the Optics Industry Affiliates Workshop while I was giving a poster presentation. My research advisor, Pierre Lucas in MSE, had recommended me to him. Having relevant research in thin film fabrication and glass science also helped my case substantially. 

Can you tell us more about the research on ultra-fast MEMS SLMs and chalcogenide glass synthesis and what excites you most about those projects?

The ultra-fast MEMS project is in an early phase, but I have a paper published on photonic computing accelerators that I can talk more about. Regarding my chalcogenide glasses, I do the research with Pierre Lucas. We are synthesizing and characterizing very difficult-to-make compositions that were either previously impossible to make or were very difficult. The other interesting part about our process is that we're making these glasses under 120 degrees C, whereas typical glass fabrication can go up to several hundred to several thousand degrees C (depending on the composition). These compositions are interesting because they are (with this process) cheap to make, have a high refractive index, have high optical nonlinearities, and are transparent in mid-wave and long-wave IR. These projects excite me because I get to A: do lots of hands-on work where I can apply my knowledge of physics and chemistry to systems I have complete control over, and B: because I'm given the chance to contribute meaningfully to impactful and important research in my field. It doesn't hurt that the PIs for both projects (Dr. Elkabbash and Dr. Lucas) are great advisors.

The environment I worked in at Corning was a straight factory, so I was exposed to industrial methods and industrial-scale engineering solutions that I've never seen in academic research labs. While interesting, it did make me realize that I thrive more in research or R&D Engineering environments vs. precision manufacturing. I like being able to take risks and make mistakes, but the cost is too high in an actual factory. It for sure helped me decide that I will pursue a PhD. I was also exposed to a lot of microfabrication techniques, which also encouraged me to get my PhD.

How has this summer experience influenced your career goals or research interests?

The most valuable thing you can get out of an internship is exploration. If you come in with a mindset to maximize exploration, you'll not only look smart, but it'll also teach you a lot about what you want out of your professional and personal life. Also, an industry lab is completely different from an academic lab. I've heard it many times, but I didn't think it would be so drastic. It's not as fun, but it also teaches the engineering mindset that you fail to get in an academic environment, especially when many professors are lifelong scientists. Also, I drove across the country to get to New Hampshire. They don't have airports there. Or Uber. I put 8,000 miles on my car this summer. I visited FermiLab (My favorite stop btw), University of Chicago, CU Boulder, Princton, Yale, MIT, Havard, the Twin Towers Memorials, 9 National Parks, pre-colonial cliff dwellings, abandoned research facilities (I attached a pic of this), and I hiked to the tallest point in the rockies (Mt Elbert in Colorado). Absolutely incredible. Everyone should do a cross-country road trip once, its not as tough as it sounds. I also made great friends in NH. Some of them were other interns but others were just people I met around. I was also taking this trip as an opportunity to use my fancy camera and get some good photography in. I had a little stuffed animal that was a subject of many photos.