Semih Cakmakyapan
Zurich
Summary
10+ years of research experience in optics, photonics, plasmonics and nanofabrication resulting in 32 SCI-index journals, 22 conference papers, 1465 citations, 1 US and EU patent; peer-reviewing of 10+journals; mentoring 10+ MSc and PhD students to date.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
PIC Design Engineer
Lightium
Zurich
09.2024 - Current
- Developed and released PDKs for Nazca and GDS Factory.
- Designed layouts for customer projects, PCMs, and characterization test cells.
- Conducted DRC, tiling, and mask assembly for various projects.
- Serving in technical WP role for subsidy project focused on heterogeneous integration (PDK&FDTD simulation).
Senior Scientist
SMART Photonics
Eindhoven
12.2021 - 09.2024
- Designed, simulated, and characterized InP-based phase modulators exceeding 50 GHz for photonic integrated circuits.
- Led technical efforts for two subsidy projects
- Owned building block development for high-speed devices enabling active-passive integration.
Research Scientist
Fraunhofer IZM
Berlin
08.2020 - 12.2021
- Design of photonic building blocks for polymer waveguides using Lumerical MODE and FDTD.
- Project management and system level design of a radio over fiber system using VPI Photonics.
- Optical characterization of Si-photonics chips, and electrical characterization of InP photodiodes.
Visiting Scholar
Stanford University
Palo Alto
08.2019 - 08.2020
- Designed anti-reflection coatings using dielectric metasurfaces for displays and solar cell applications.
- Optimized dry-etch processes for glass based metasurfaces on 4-inch wafer platform.
- Designed optical cavities based on ultra-light transparent films with high emissivity for thermal management of solar cells.
Researcher
University of California, Davis
Berkeley
05.2018 - 08.2019
- Designed, fabricated and characterized mid-wave infrared beam-steering devices based on low-loss optical phased arrays and SiNx grating out-couplers on 6-inch Si-Ge photonics platform.
- Designed and fabricated Ge-based metalenses for mid-infrared flat optics applications.
- Optimized fabrication steps and created a process flow for low-loss SiNx waveguides and 45-degree Ge waveguide mirrors.
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles
03.2015 - 05.2018
- Designed, fabricated and characterized an ultrafast, high responsivity and broadband graphene photodetector (patented).
- Completed the optical characterization of a plasmonically enhanced high-sensitivity terahertz photomixer, which operates between 100 GHz to 5 THz; tested for gas sensing, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL).
- Designed and fabricated a GaAs based high-power and broadband photoconductive terahertz source.
Graduate Research Fellow
Bilkent University
Ankara
09.2009 - 03.2015
- Research in plasmonics, graphene-based tunable metamaterial devices, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
- Lead person in a European Union Flagship Project on graphene-based field-effect-transistors on epitaxial SiC.
- Teaching assistantship and course material preparation for 9 undergraduate physics courses.
Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC) and CERN
Strasbourg
06.2008 - 09.2008
- Monte Carlo simulations to model electron-positron collisions for a future linear particle accelerator.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Physics
Bilkent University
Ankara, Turkey01.2015
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Bilkent University
Ankara, Turkey01.2009
Skills
Programming and Analysis
- Python
- MATLAB
- Minitab
Simulation Software
- Comsol Multiphysics
- Lumerical
- HFSS
- CST Microwave Studio
- Harold by PhotonDesign
- Tidy3D
- VPI Photonics
Process
- Optical (direct laser, stepper, contact) lithography
- Electron beam lithography
- SEM, AFM
Photonic Layout Tools
- Nazca Design
- GDS Factory
- Luceda
- Klayout
Process Improvement and Management
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Project Management Course
Characterization
- RF Characterization (up to 110 GHz)
- Optical Characterization
Languages
Turkish
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
German
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Dutch
Elementary (A2)
A2
Timeline
PIC Design Engineer
Lightium
09.2024 - Current
Senior Scientist
SMART Photonics
12.2021 - 09.2024
Research Scientist
Fraunhofer IZM
08.2020 - 12.2021
Visiting Scholar
Stanford University
08.2019 - 08.2020
Researcher
University of California, Davis
05.2018 - 08.2019
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California, Los Angeles
03.2015 - 05.2018
Graduate Research Fellow
Bilkent University
09.2009 - 03.2015
Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC) and CERN
06.2008 - 09.2008
Doctor of Philosophy - Physics
Bilkent University
Bachelor of Science - Physics
Bilkent University
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