Ripon Kumar Dey, PhD Chief Architect & Principal Scientist | Quantum Photonics | Nanofabrication | AI-Integrated Hardware | Deep Tech R&D
Ripon is a deep tech researcher and engineer with 10+ years of nanofabrication expertise spanning quantum photonics, semiconductor devices, photonics, MEMS/NEMS, metasurfaces, and advanced imaging systems. He has led multimillion-dollar R&D programs at the intersection of photonics hardware, AI-integrated sensing, and scalable nanomanufacturing, from proof-of-concept through productization.
Currently serving as Chief Architect & Principal Scientist at Deepera (Vancouver), Ripon is pioneering the design and prototyping of quantum photonic systems and AI-driven quantum imaging sensors (Quantum Cameras), pushing the frontier of what optical sensing hardware can achieve in the intelligence era.
He holds 8+ issued patents, has authored 30+ peer-reviewed journal articles and 2 book chapters, and serves as a reviewer for Nature/Springer and Elsevier Microelectronic Engineering journals.
► What I Work On
Quantum Photonics & Quantum Imaging
- Quantum photonic device architecture, design, and prototyping
- Quantum camera and imaging sensor design, fabrication, and system integration
- AI module integration for intelligent quantum sensing and real-time inference
- Compound semiconductor fabrication (III-V materials) for photonic and quantum device platforms
- Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) process development and characterization
Nanofabrication & Process Engineering
- End-to-end cleanroom process development: from design to device
- Electron beam lithography (EBL): JEOL 6300FS, high-resolution proximity correction, pattern optimization
- Photolithography, mask-less aligner (MLA), deep UV, NIL, helium ion lithography
- Plasma & reactive ion etching: RIE, DRIE, ICP, ion beam etching
- Thin film deposition: ALD, PVD, sputtering, e-beam evaporation, PECVD, thermal evaporation
- Thick metal deposition, lift-off processes, and wafer-scale integration
- Silicon wafer processing, batch fabrication, and high-aspect-ratio MEMS/NEMS structures
Photonics & Advanced Optics
- Metasurface and metalens design and fabrication (AR/VR, sensing, authentication)
- Holographic displays, diffractive gratings, plasmonic devices, nano-optic displays
- FDTD, COMSOL, DDA optical simulations
Characterization & Metrology
- SEM, AFM, FIB, HIM, XPS, ellipsometry, conductive SPM, IV measurement
AI & Software
- AI module integration for quantum imaging and sensor data pipelines
- Python, C/C++, MATLAB, JavaScript, HTML/CSS; KLayout, Beamer, DesignCAD
Leadership & Management
- Led multidisciplinary R&D teams (5–15 members) across design, fabrication, and metrology
- Managed multimillion-dollar R&D budgets; defined DOEs, work breakdowns, and program milestones
- Customer engagement, IP strategy, and technology commercialization
- EH&S compliance, cleanroom operations management, SOP development
► Career Highlights
- Deepera — Chief Architect & Principal Scientist: quantum photonics, AI quantum camera development (2025–present)
- Authentix Inc. — Manager & Sr. Nanofab Scientist: nano-optic displays, metasurfaces, nanophotonics authentication (2024–2025)
- Metamaterial Inc. — Manager Nanofab R&D: holographic displays, metalens AR/VR, diffractive gratings (2021–2024)
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology — R&D Scientist: MEMS/NEMS, AFM probes, biosensors, lab manager (2015–2020)
► Specialties
Quantum Photonics · Quantum Camera / Imaging Sensor Design · AI-Integrated Hardware · Compound Semiconductor Fabrication · Nanofabrication · EBL · Photolithography · Thin Film Deposition · Plasma Etching · Metasurfaces · Metalens · Holographic Displays · MEMS/NEMS · Device Characterization · SEM · AFM · XPS · FDTD Simulation · IP & Patent Development · Deep Tech R&D Leadership
► Education
PhD, Nanotechnology Engineering — University of Waterloo
MSc, Physics — University of Western Ontario
BSc, Physics — Shah Jalal University of Science & Technology
► Memberships & Recognition
- IEEE & AVS Member
- NSERC Industrial Postgraduate Scholarship | Mitacs Fellowship | Raith Best Micrograph Award
- Reviewer: Nature/Springer | Elsevier Microelectronic Engineering
- Volunteer President, Shoily Foundation Canada