Ripon Dey

I am a Manager and senior scientist working in Authentix. My research area is nanofabrication, MEMS etc.

Manager and Senior Nanofab Scientist, Nanofab Dept, R&D

Authentix Inc, Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada
Jul 2024 – Present

The innovative developer of nano-optic devices and materials used in authentication, metastructure sectors, AR/VR Banknote, and photonic sensing applications where across expanding roles of impact, I was responsible for:

• Lead a team of researchers, process engineers, and external partners to advance state-of-the-art developments in technology and intellectual property development (R&D) and the prototyping of lab-scale samples.
• Developed new generations of nano optic diffractive and metasurface displays in combination with micro optics using electron beam lithography.
• Plan and execute wafer-scale R&D based lab-scale samples for volume manufacturing through proof-of-concept, feasibility, optimization, and technology integration milestones.
• Innovate, stabilize, and maintain processes for the fabrication of nano-optical devices.
• Oversee and lead daily operations of nanofab laboratory and cleanroom spaces, ensuring best safety practices aligned with EH&S standards.
• Design, execute, and oversee internal manufacturing workflows to enhance manufacturing capabilities and process stability.
• Develop and productize ultrahigh contrast diffractive displays, metastructure filters, and plasmonic optical devices, integrating a wide range of photopolymer resins and thin film metals.

Manager and Senior Nanofab Researcher, Nanofab Dept, R&D

Metamaterial Inc., Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada
Feb 2022 – Jun 2024

Supporting nanofab process development across the aerospace and defence, consumer electronics, automotive, and clean energy sectors, where I successfully:

• Develop, lead, and execute R&D programs with annual revenue exceeding a few millions.
• Contribute into design, fabrication, integration, and productization of metamaterial devices, including flexible holographic displays, diffractive gratings, metastructure filters, meta-lens integrated components, and plasmonic sensors.
• Conduct layout design, pattern engineering, and nanofabrication for realizing diffractive displays, metasurface displays, and integrated optics and photonics systems using proprietary (Python based) and 3rd party software (Beamer, KLayout etc).
• Manage a 5-person team of nanofab scientists, engineers, Characterization scientist and metrologist, establishing project frameworks and enabling device design, fabrication and lab-scale prototyping.
• Developed novel ‘reflective’ metalens prototype with metasurface nanostructures on flexible substrate for AR/VR application. 
• Designed novel ‘transmissive’ metalens device with metasurface nanostructures on flexible substrate for AR/VR application.
• Support intellectual property development through active involvement in technology and product ideation, and feasibility demonstration, and full technical support to patent documentation.
• Supervise end-to-end project lifecycle by designing strategic roadmaps, defining SMART objectives, creating DOEs and work breakdown structures, and directing execution within schedule and budget.

Senior Scientist, Nanofab Dept, R&D

Nanotech Security Corp., Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada
Jun 2020 – Jan 2022

Contributing to the development of optoelectronic components and authentication metasurfaces for the 
authentication industry, key contributions revolved around:

• Developing new generations of nano optic diffractive and metasurface displays in combination with micro optics.
• Successfully executed multiple client-based (major G10 bank client) projects worth 1 million USD in one year by delivering overt security feature (optically variable devices) exemplar samples using optimized and efficient micro/nanofabrication procedures (e.g. electron beam lithography (EBL), deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), and nanoimprinting lithography (NIL)).
• Leading multi-million-dollar projects by developing nano-optic technology platforms (based on blazed gratings and phase gradient metasurfaces) for holographic and AR displays.
• Developed the technology by adding advanced nanofabrication techniques in combination with developing several dry etching processes for nano optic displays.
• Improved micro/nanofabrication manufacturability and repeatability of different optical variable devices by 90% through EBL and DRIE optimization, structural characterization, and statistical analysis.
• Designing and implementing end-to-end fabrication methods, including binary and gray-scale large-area e-beam lithography, plasma etching, ALD, PVD, and nanoimprint lithography techniques.
• Devoting longer hours in process calibrating, automating, and operating advanced e-beam lithography systems (JEOL 6300FS) towards prototyping display devices embedding nano-scale diffractive gratings overlaid on micro-optics.
• Written and compiled client reports for monthly revenue recognition.

Research and Development Scientist

Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
Jun 2019 – Jun 2020

Partnering with a broad range of multidisciplinary teams from across Canada’s Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), Institute for Quantum Computing, National Research Council Canada, and Giga-to-Nano Cleanroom lab, I:

• Prototyped Reflective display device pixels offering high contrast, low power consumption by proposing and developing complex (12+ step) fabrication processes, including photolithography, e-beam lithography on non-conductive substrates, ICP-RIE dry etching of angled profiles, PECVD, PVD, and packaging.
• Developed the nanofab process steps (DOE) for the innovative Micro-scale Scroll-pump and some other MEMS/NEMS devices for various start-ups. 
• Managed the research-group laboratory (as Lab Manager) and responsible for the daily operation and safety issues of that laboratory for 15 peoples.
• Prepared the grant proposal, SOP, Journal articles and technical reports.

Nanofab Process Engineer

Nanodevice solutions, Toronto, Canada.
Apr 2018 – Jun 2020

Jointly invented, designed and developed the fabrication process to make the high-aspect-ratio Atomic force microscopy probes (Force Sensor) in volume production which is patented-protected (IP). This tech company got licensed to utilize this patented technology and collected multi-million as seed fund. Fully involved and engaged in innovation-to-commercialization transition for this product.

• Manufactured the force sensor (AFM Probe) prototypes in batch method. 
• Optimized the fabrication process to make the force sensor product for mass production.
• Characterized the product quality and ensure market standard.

Process Engineer Intern

NERv Technology Inc, Waterloo, Canada.
May 2016 – Sep 2016

• Developed the microfabrication process for the implantable biosensor that can be used to detect internal bleeding in the abdomen in real-time; by using Photolithography, ICP RIE, thin film deposition techniques (Internship work at NERv technology Inc, Waterloo, ON from 2016/05 to 2016/09).

Mitacs Research Fellow

Nanotech Engineering,Dept. of ECE, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
Jan 2016 – Apr 2018

Partnering with a broad range of multidisciplinary teams from across Canada’s Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), Institute for Quantum Computing, National Research Council Canada, and Giga-to-Nano Cleanroom lab, I:

• Designed and prototyped Silicon‑based implantable biosensor with sub-100 nm footprint to detect internal bleeding in the abdomen in real-time. Performed characterization and analysis by using regular state-of-the-arts process equipment.
• Developed the microfabrication process for the implantable biosensor that can be used to detect internal bleeding in the abdomen in real-time; by using Photolithography, ICP RIE, thin film deposition techniques (Internship work at NERv technology Inc, Waterloo, ON from 2016/05 to 2016/09)
• Performed characterization and analysis by using regular state-of-the-arts process equipment of that implantable biosensor.

Senior Web Programmer

The RS Software, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Jan 2007 – Aug 2008

• Performed web programming (code) and visual/Graphics design (UI/UX) tasks using the technologies such as PHP-MySQL, CSS, HTML, JS, JQuery, ActionScript, UV/UX Interface design.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

Nanotechnology Engineering Program, Dept. of ECE, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada
Jan 2011 – Sep 2015

Field of research: Nanostructure and device fabrication, Nano-device product development.

• Jointly invented the technology of novel fabrication process to make a nano-device which is now patent protected in US, Canada and China.
• Design, simulation and process development to manufacturing a breakthrough AFM probe nano-device (Nanofabrication and its application in atomic force microscopy).
• Developed the prototype of the nano-schottky junction for future nano-electronic devices.
• Designed and developed a fabrication process to make nanostructures in the non-flat or irregular surface.
• Demonstrated the effect of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution on e-beam exposure properties of popular negative EBL resist polystyrene.
• Mentored (as teaching assistant) nanotechnology and electrical engineering undergraduate courses.
• Visited University of Nanjing (collaboration with Imprint Nano Ltd), Nanjing, Jiangshu, China (2013/05 – 2013/08) as scholar and demonstrated nanostructure dot pattern array using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in front of a research group. Exchanged research experience with a diverse research team.

Master of Science (M.Sc)

Physics, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western, London, ON, Canada
Sep 2008 – Dec 2010

Field of research: Surface science, Thin film technology, Nanomaterial synthesis and characterization.

• Design and developed a surface modification technique of well-ordered polymeric film deposited on several surfaces and characterized its properties under hyperthermal hydrogen reactor using different surface analysis techniques.
• The project featured in an annual publication by the Nanofab facility in the University of Western.
• Mentored undergraduate students by sharing theoretical and laboratory experiences (Teaching assistant and laboratory instructor).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) and MS

Physics, Dept. of Physics, Shah Jalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh
Graduated 2008

Field of research: Opto-electronics, Planetary physics.

• Studied and characterized the optical absorption, steady-state emission and time-resolved emission spectroscopy on carbazole-based conjugated polymers.
• Studied the radiation pressure force on non-spherical dust particle using discrete dipole approximation method.