About Me
I am a Research Scientist at Meta's Reality Labs (RL Research OPALS Team), where I specialize in advanced holography research and development for next-generation augmented reality displays. My work spans the design, simulation, and fabrication of holographic optical elements (HOEs) with complex optical functions, coupled with fully automated metrology systems.
Previously, I was a research assistant at the Lab for Atomic and Photonic Technologies at Northwestern University, where I completed my PhD in Electrical Engineering (Photonics & Solid State) in March 2025. My doctoral research focused on applications of analog and digital holography: high-speed opto-electronic correlators, PQ:PMMA volume hologram fabrication, and photonic integrated circuits in AlGaAs/GaAs and LiNbO₃.
I'm passionate about technologies that truly exploit the complex nature of light — from fundamental science to next-generation displays. Light is an extraordinary tool, and I strive to design systems that push its limits.
Education
2018
2025
2025
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering — Photonics & Solid State
Northwestern University · GPA: 3.96
Thesis: Digital & Analog Holography for Target Recognition and Free-Space Optical Communication
⭐ NU Presidential Fellow 2023
2018
2021
2021
M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering — Photonics & Solid State
Northwestern University · GPA: 3.94
2013
2017
2017
B.Sc. in Telecommunications & Electronic Systems Engineering
ITESM, Mexico City Campus · Grade: 92/100
Thesis: Design and Characterization of a High Capacity Optical Link Using Direct Detection OFDM
⭐ Graduated with Honors
Work Experience
Research Scientist
Meta, Inc. — Reality Labs Research (OPALS Team)
Apr 2025 – Present
- Led research into coherent analog-holographic display systems for AR, coordinating with cross-functional partners.
- Constructed a unique, fully automated holographic exposure and metrology system.
- Developed MatLab, Zemax, and SolidWorks models of complex optical and diffractive systems; produced white papers driving down-selection of three product designs while informing cross-functional partners about their physical limitations and defects.
- Improved key performance indicators by up to 10×, demonstrating wave-optical properties for contextual AI displays with formfactor prototypes and manufacturing specifications.
- Exceeded Expectations in all performance evaluations.
Research Scientist Intern
Meta, Reality Labs Research
Jul – Oct 2024
- Researched novel AR displays using holographic techniques.
- Produced proof-of-concept prototypes with wearable form factor — tech-transferred into a direct product candidate, the only such transfer from this department to date.
- Developed simulations and automated metrology setups; resulting tools remain in active use.
- Identified KPIs, SWAP-C constraints, and potential roadblocks for the proposed architecture.
PhD Research Assistant
Lab for Atomic & Photonic Technologies, Northwestern University
Sep 2018 – Apr 2025
- Led research into opto-electronic correlators, PQ:PMMA volume holograms, and AlGaAs photonic integrated circuits.
- Demonstrated the fastest shift, scale, and rotation invariant opto-electronic image correlator on record.
- Developed novel NIR spectroscopic systems using custom holographic diffractive components.
- Designed and manufactured AlGaAs DBR lasers, detectors, ring resonators, and other PIC components in a class-100 cleanroom.
- Built fully automated setups for optical, holographic, and photonic characterization.
- Led & managed a team of four graduate researchers (3 PhD students + 1 postdoc); mentored 2 undergrad and 2 high school students.
- Published 5 peer-reviewed journal papers; presented at CLEO, FiO, SPIE PW, and AMOS.
- Prepared 3 accepted proposals for Argonne National Lab and 3 funded grant proposals (ONR, AFOSR; >$2M total).
Research Assistant
Optical Telecom. Lab., IINGEN, UNAM
2016 – 2017
- Researched fiber-optic orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM); achieved a 400 Gbps link.
- Built characterization setups for EOMs and Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
Select Awards
2024
CLEO Highlighted Talk
For "Highly Enhanced Pattern Recognition with a Balanced Joint Transform Correlator."
2024
EB-2 NIW Permanent Residence
Granted by the U.S. Government for performing exceptional research in the national interest.
2023
NU Presidential Fellowship
The most prestigious fellowship awarded to graduate students by Northwestern University.
2022
AMOS Best Presentation Award
Optical Systems & Instrumentation session, for ultrafast holographic image retrieval research.
2022
Correlation One Terminal — 1st Place
Midwest Regional champion in an AI programming competition (Citadel Securities, 30,000+ participants).
2021
SPIE Education Scholarship
Awarded for outreach and potential future contributions to optics and photonics.
2022
Optica Student Leadership Experience
Selected to attend Optica's annual SLE conference at FiO.
2017
ITESM Graduation Honors
Graduated at the top of the class within the department major.
Research
My PhD research spans three interconnected topics, each rooted in interferometry and coupled-wave theory. Click a card to read more.
Optical Correlators
Hybrid opto-electronic and balanced joint transform correlators for ultra-fast SSRI image recognition.
PQ:PMMA Volume Holograms
Fabrication and characterization of thick holographic optical elements for WDM, passive ranging, and AR.
Photonic Integrated Circuits
AlGaAs/GaAs and LiNbO₃ integrated photonic devices — lasers, detectors, ring resonators, isolators.
Skills
Optics & Photonics
- Fourier optics, coupled-wave theory, interferometry
- Free-space, fiber-based, and integrated optical systems
- Holographic optical element design and fabrication
- SLM configuration, calibration & wavefront modulation
- Wave-optic and ray-optic simulations (MatLab, Zemax)
- High-power and Ti:Sapphire laser operation
Nanofabrication (Class 100 Cleanroom)
- E-beam lithography (Jeol 8100), PECVD, RIE
- E-beam evaporation, sputtering, SEM imaging
- Chip cleaving, mounting, and wire-bonding
- GaAs/AlGaAs and LiNbO₃ process development
Hardware & Electronics
- Xilinx FPGA development with VHDL
- PID control systems and real-time feedback
- Robotics, servos, and instrument control (GPIB, USB, PCIe)
Software & Programming
- Expert: MatLab, C++ (OpenCV, parallel)
- Proficient: Python, VHDL, Julia, HTML/CSS
- Zemax OpticStudio, COMSOL Multiphysics
- SolidWorks, Fusion 360 CAD; rapid prototyping
Signal & Image Processing
- Polar Mellin transform for SSRI recognition
- High-speed image acquisition and processing
- MTF measurement and analysis
- Spectroscopy, interferometry, and metrology automation
Communication
- 5 peer-reviewed journal papers, 20 conference papers
- Invited seminars on holography, PID, and coupled-wave theory
- Dual native speaker: English & Spanish
- Grant writing, technical reports, and white papers
Select Publications
J. Gamboa, X. Shen, T. Hamidfar, S. A. Mitu, and S. M. Shahriar,
"Debiased Opto-electronic Joint Transform Correlator for Enhanced Real-Time Pattern Recognition,"
Optics Express 33(13), 28640–28649 (2025).
OE · 2025
J. Gamboa, T. Hamidfar, X. Shen, and S. M. Shahriar,
"Elimination of optical phase sensitivity in a shift, scale, and rotation invariant hybrid opto-electronic correlator via off-axis operation,"
Optics Express 31(4), 5990–6002 (2023).
OE · 2023
J. Gamboa, T. Hamidfar, J. Vonckx, M. Fouda, and S. M. Shahriar,
"Thick PQ:PMMA transmission holograms for free-space optical communication via wavelength-division multiplexing,"
Applied Optics 60(28), 8851–8857 (2021).
AO · 2021
J. Gamboa, T. Hamidfar, J. Bonacum, and S. M. Shahriar,
"Determination of the refractive index modulation of PQ:PMMA holographic phase gratings over a large spectral range through a two-level approximation of the electric susceptibility,"
Optical Materials Express 11(11), 3627–3635 (2021).
OME · 2021
J. Gamboa, M. Fouda, and S. M. Shahriar,
"Demonstration of shift, scale, and rotation invariant target recognition using the hybrid opto-electronic correlator,"
Optics Express 27(12), 16507–16520 (2019).
OE · 2019
Outreach & Volunteering
2021–2024
Outreach Chair & Secretary — SPIE Student Chapter at NU
Organized workshops, invited speakers, and ran group activities to promote optics education for students of all levels.
2021–2023
High School Summer Research Mentor
Guided two high school students through university-level research: FPGA-based Polar Mellin Transform and opto-electronic time-domain correlations.
2023
GUIAR Latinx Mentor — Northwestern University
Mentored a Latinx undergraduate student through the Graduate and Undergraduate Initiative for Advancement and Resources program.
2018–2022
"Starting a PhD" Seminar Series — ITESM
Prepared and delivered online seminars for Mexican engineering undergraduates on pursuing a PhD in the USA.
2015–2017
Robotics Workshops for Underprivileged Students — Mexico City
Designed and taught robotics and electronics workshops for high school students to inspire STEM careers.