Nicolas Deshler and Itay Ozer Named Student Innovators of the Year

PhD students Nicolas Deshler and Itay Ozer have been recognized for their invention of a quantum optimal coronagraph, a breakthrough device that uses spatial mode sorting to null starlight and reveal faint objects like exoplanets. Their innovation reaches quantum limits of information extraction, with potential applications in astronomy, microscopy, and telecommunications.

Their collaboration began during an internship and flourished at the University of Arizona, combining Nicolas’s expertise in theory and simulation with Itay’s strength in experimental optics. Together, they rapidly prototyped and validated the technology, secured a patent with support from Tech Launch Arizona, and received funding from Raytheon. The coronagraph’s precision opens doors to commercialization, with potential uses in space-based observatories and high-bandwidth satellite communications.

This recognition is part of the I-Squared Awards and Expo, an annual celebration hosted by Tech Launch Arizona to honor the people, inventions, and startups generating impact through university innovation. Held on October 8 at the Health Sciences Innovation Building, the event brings together the university community and local innovation ecosystem to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and research.