Incorporating Research into the Photonics Curriculum at Stonehill College

At Stonehill College, our distinctive Photonics program integrates fundamental principles with practical applications in communication, renewable energy, sensing, and imaging, all supported by our state-funded LEAP lab equipped with advanced photonics test and measurement equipment. To effectively incorporate research into the curriculum, we have designed projects such as the fabrication and testing of photodetector, where students apply their coursework to solder and evaluate a device with a cut-off wavelength of 2.6 µm at room temperature. Additionally, students engage in developing an AI-powered face recognition system using a Jetson Nano edge-computing platform, creating imaging algorithms to recognize individuals captured by a camera. These hands-on research projects not only strengthen technical skills but also enrich the curriculum by providing students with real-world applications of photonics principles.