Derek Kosciolek

Research Projects: (1) Portable, Handheld Biosensor: Relying on an engineered plasmonic metasurface functionalized with de novo intrinsically disordered proteins, we are developing a small, robust biosensor that can sensitively and selectively identify protein and small molecule-based targets. Applications are numerous, including handheld sensors for first responders and health care professionals, environmental and remote sensing, and integrated sensors for food production lines. (2) Forked Grating Coupler for OAM Multiplexing: Modifying the traditional linear Bragg grating in silicon with a forked pattern yields a device capable of generating or selectively receiving light carrying specific OAM modes bound for a fiber optic cable. We have modeled and fabricated both single mode and dual mode devices and verified the working principle. A potential application is increasing bandwidth in fiber optic communications by multiplexing over the potentially infinite orthogonal OAM modes at a single wavelength. (3) Hyperbolic Metamaterial for AOI-independent Transmission: By modifying the resonant dielectric layer in a traditional Bragg reflector with a periodic metal pattern we can mitigate angle of incidence dependence of TM light that plagues IR optical filters. A key application is to increase the amount of light throughput to remote sensing satellites, which can potentially allow us to shed bulky collimating optical elements, reducing the all important SWaP of space-bound devices.