Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

EPIC interview: Collaboration meets innovation

Here is another installment of an interview series presented by EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium. This episode features Antonio Castelo, EPIC’s technology manager for Biomedical and Lasers, talking with Alexander Weigl, head of Product Management at TRUMPF Photonic Components, and iThera Medical’s CTO Patrick Leisching.
Their discussion focuses on a recent collaboration on a VCSEL-based subsystem solution for optoacoustic imaging. 

Light News 03.18.25

Here if the latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! 

A journey from academia to startup

Here is another fun chat Host Justine Murphy had during Photonics West in January. This one is with Daniel Shaddock, CEO and co-founder of Liquid Instruments, a developer of reconfigurable test and measurement solutions for scientists and engineers.
Before founding this startup a decade ago, he was a professor at the Australian National University and a Directors Fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. He's a physicist, an engineer, and an entrepreneur with many years of expertise in optical and electronic instrumentation, ultimately helping accelerate research and development across industries.

Bridging industry, academia, and diversity

This episode features Dr. Olivia Wheeler-Williams, coatings development manager at Edmund Optics, who has been named a 2025 Optica Ambassador, a position that allows her to help strengthen ties between academia and industry.
Olivia met up with host Justine Murphy during Photonics West back in early February, where they talked about things like her work at Edmund, being a mentor, and the importance of diversity in optics.

AI/optics/CHIPS Act: A combo for the future

This episode features Todd Haugen, CEO of Enablence. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry … including a two-decade-stint at Microsoft, where he led several large-scale engineering projects. 
In our chat, we talked about many things impacting the industry, including the growing relationship between AI and optics, thoughts on the CHIPS Act, and what motivates his dedication.

Dr. Andrea Armani: Engineer, researcher, mentor

This episode features Dr. Andrea Armani, senior director of engineering and physical sciences at the Ellison Medical Institute and longtime professor at the University of Southern California. Host Justine Murphy sat down with her in San Francisco last month, as they prepared for Photonics West. 
The pair talked about Dr. Armani's career venture with the Ellison Medical Institute, her love of teaching and mentoring engineering students, her perspectives on the photonics industry, and what the future holds.

Master of the photonics roadmap

This episode features the renowned Dr. Michael Lebby, a photonics and optics industry veteran whose decades-long career spans all levels of research and development, technology startups, sales, finance, marketing…  and everything in between.

Tech background drives unique perspectives

In this episode of Following the Photons, our host Justine Murphy talks with Mateja Lampe Rupnik, CEO of Red Pitaya and advisory CFO to its parent company, Instrumentation Technologies.
She has many years of experience in tech industries, and offers the unique perspectives she’s gained since joining the photonics realm, including on the growing and evolving roles of women in STEM.
 
 
 

Light News 01.28.25

The latest roundup of some of the most interesting and exciting news impacting the photonics industry! 

EPIC interview: A focus on integrated photonics

This episode kicks off a new monthly interview series presented by EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium, that will showcase the people and companies enriching and advancing the photonics industry.
In this edition, EPIC’s Dr. Ivan Nikitski talks with Pim Kat, CEO of Amazec Photonics, and Eelko Brinkhoff, the incoming CEO of PhotonDelta.