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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.