Felipe Guzman

Research Summary

In the Laboratory of Space Systems and Optomechanics (LASSO) at University of Arizona, we focus on designing and developing inertial sensors with application in distinct fields such as gravitational-wave astronomy and space geodesy.

Our group research is centered in:

• Novel optomechanical inertial sensing technologies.
• Optical precision measurements.
• System characterization and signal processing.

LASSO members are also part of international collaborations such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antena – LISA Consortium and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory – LIGO Scientific Collaboration, where we contribute to the characterization and development of ground and space-based observatories.

Degree(s)

• Ph.D., physics, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics & Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, 2009
• M.S., engineering physics, Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 2005
• B.S., electrical engineering, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2001

Employment

• University of Arizona:
  Wyant College of Optical Sciences, Jack Lee Jewell Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences and Professor of Optical Sciences, 2024 - present
  Wyant College of Optical Sciences, Associate Professor, 2018 - 2020
• Texas A&M University
  Aerospace Engineering, Physics & Astronomy, Associate Professor, 2020 - 2023
• German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Center for Applied Space Technology (ZARM), Research Physicist, Bremen, Germany, 2016 - 2018
• National Institute of Standards and Technology, Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, Senior Research Associate, 2012 - 2016
• Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Head of LISA Pathfinder Laboratory for Optical Metrology Systems, 2011 - 2012
• NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) Fellow, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 2009 - 2011

Professional Affiliations and Activities

• Associate editor with the Journal of the Optical Society of America (JOSA) A. 
• Chair of the Technical Leadership Committee in Metrology Systems and Characterization, American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE).
• Mercator Fellow (Guest Professor) with the German Research Foundation (DFG) Collaborative Research Center (CRC) TerraQ.
• Member of professional societies: OPTICA, APS, SPIE, AGU, EGU, AIAA, ASPE.

Awards and Honors

• NASA Engineering Technical Achievement Award 2022 – co-recipient as member of the NASA LISA Telescope Team
• Mercator Fellow (DFG Guest Professor) with the German Research Foundation (DFG – Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft), in the Collaborative Research Center 1464 (SFB – Soderforschungsbereich): Relativistic and quantum-based geodesy, January 2021 – December 2024.
• Mercator Fellow (DFG Guest Professor) with the German Research Foundation (DFG – Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft), in the Collaborative Research Center 1128 (SFB – Soderforschungsbereich): Relativistic geodesy and gravimetry with quantum sensors, October 2014 – June 2019.
• NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowship, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Gravitational Astrophysics Laboratory (Code 663), Maryland, USA, July 2009–July 2011.
• Graduate Fellowship of the International Max Planck Research School on Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Hannover, Germany, April 2007–June 2009.