David Zambrano ’26 is on the pioneering edge of a field that could one day replace modern electronics.
Zambrano, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Florida Polytechnic University in May, is advancing research in silicon photonics – a technology that uses light instead of electricity to transmit and process data. He is returning to the University this fall to continue his work as a master’s student in electrical engineering.
Zambrano has presented his work at the SPIE Photonics West Symposium and the Conference on Laser and Electro-Optics (CLEO), two of the world’s largest and most prestigious events for the optics and photonics industry. He has also won multiple research awards, including the research presentation competition and best paper award at an IEEE Engineering and Science Research Symposium at Florida Poly, and is contributing to a patent application.
Although data transfer through light has been possible for decades via optical fibers, the student from Boynton Beach, Florida, said the new frontier is using silicon photonics in optical computing to transmit data on a microscopic scale. Within the field, he is focused on hardware security and optical computing, or using light to perform mathematical logic.
The research is being conducted under the supervision of Dr. Farhan Bin Tarik, an assistant professor of electrical, computer and cybersecurity engineering at Florida Poly.
“My ultimate career focus has always been integrated circuits and designing chips, more or less,” Zambrano said. “When I met Dr. Bin Tarik and learned about his research focus in silicon photonics, I thought it was the perfect avenue to explore.”
In the last academic year, Zambrano’s contributions progressed from device-level modeling to system-level implications, Bin Tarik said. And their collaborative work is quickly gaining attention in the scientific community.
“His efforts are not merely incremental; they target fundamental challenges in photonic computing, hardware security and advanced integrated photonic systems,” Bin Tarik said. “Thanks to David’s research contributions, we are in the process of pursuing a patent on a novel silicon photonic waveguide.”
The silicon photonic waveguide is a microscopic structure designed to confine and route light signals on a silicon chip, enabling ultra-fast, energy-efficient optical communication. Zambrano said he is excited to be involved in what he views as the next technology revolution.
“I’m glad to be part of that push,” he said. “I think we’re going to see some good alternatives to electronics in the near future – like silicon photonics.”
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
