This column shines a light on the experiences and insights of IEEE Photonics Society leaders. Through Q&A interviews, members get an inside look at the people guiding the Society, their career paths, and their views on advancing photonics, the industry, and professional growth.
Aref Chowdhury, Ph.D., received his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics & Statistics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1994, followed by a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2001. After completing his undergraduate degree, he worked as a Senior Engineer at Alcatel CIT. Upon earning his doctorate, he joined Bell Laboratories’ Optical Physics Research Department as a Member of Technical Staff.
Dr. Chowdhury’s research interests have encompassed nonlinear optics, negative refractive index metamaterials, optical fiber communications, and white LED lighting. From 2008 to 2010, he served as Senior Manager of Intellectual Property and Standards at Bell Labs, before being appointed Chief Technology Officer in 2011. From 2021 to 2025, he was Vice President Strategy and CTO of Network Infrastructure at Nokia.
He was recently named Chief Technology Officer & Head of Strategy at Lightwave Logic.
What is your current profession and what volunteer role do you serve within the IEEE Photonics Society?
I currently serve as the Chief Technology Officer & Head of Strategy at Lightwave Logic, a company focused on electro-optic polymers for high-speed connectivity. In the IEEE Photonics Society, I volunteer as Vice-President (VP) of Professional and Technical Development (PTD) on the Board of Governors, providing strategic direction and oversight to the PTD Council and its committees, including Standards and Industry Engagement. In this role, I have been largely centered on guiding efforts to identify and foster emerging technical and industrial areas, nurturing the Society’s focus on cutting-edge applications and key “hot topics” in photonics.
What drew you to the field of photonics? Was there a particular moment or inspiration, a point when you realized this was the path for you?
I was always fascinated with light from an early age but if I had to choose a particular moment when I realized that this was the path for me, I would say that it is when I took a course on Optoelectronics during my undergraduate studies. Experiences like mine highlight why it is important to engage students in photonics and optics early in their academic careers. Early exposure helps them connect fundamental concepts to real-world applications, discover career possibilities they may not yet be aware of, and make informed choices about advanced coursework, research opportunities, and long-term professional paths in this rapidly evolving field.
What are your primary goals for your tenure as VP of Professional & Technical Development (PTD), and for the Society’s PTD Council?
My primary goals are to continue to improve and make more relevant the activities of the Industry Engagement and Standards Committees so that we are serving our membership for their current needs as well as envisioning what our membership needs will be in the coming years.
With your deep understanding of both the technical and the corporate world, how do you see industry collaborations evolving to shape the future of the IEEE Photonics Society?
I strongly believe that industry collaborations are an essential part of the future of IEEE Photonics Society. Industry is the avenue by which technologies are commercialized and reach into society for all of our benefit and progress. Thus, the engagement of industry, be they start-ups or large corporations, with academia and national labs is essential in driving research ideas/inventions to innovations with commercial success.
Why is it important for the Society to have strong engagement across all industry stages, from deep tech startups to global tech giants?
Strong engagement across the industry ecosystem is vital as all industry stages are contributing to innovation. Technology startups are typically focused on a particular area and can move fast, especially when adequately funded; large corporations have the ability, resources and experience to put different technological pieces together to develop a complete solution for their large customer base.
From your perspective, which emerging areas of photonics, whether in research, application, and/or workforce development, should the Society invest in to meet future demands and member needs?
From my perspective, the Society should continue to focus on the areas of photonic connectivity for AI and quantum-resilient networks; while also ensuring we effectively cater to the evolving needs of our membership through high-quality journals, conferences, webinars, and training opportunities in these emerging areas.
Having managed IP and standards, what’s your perspective on how standards impact emerging technologies today?
Standards play a very important role especially in emerging technologies today. With the proliferation of so many ideas and approaches to solving problems, Standards plays a key role in setting a common set of requirements and features across the industry that enables interoperability and drives competition to the benefit of customers.
Within this context, the IEEE Photonics Society’s Standards Committee develops and maintains IEEE standards for photonics technologies, including lasers, optical fibers, and lightwave systems. In collaboration with the IEEE Standards Association, the Committee brings together experts from industry and academia to advance safety, interoperability, and innovation across emerging areas, including (but not limited to) industrial lasers, fiber-optic sensing, photonic design automation, simulation, and underwater laser communications.
As a CTO, which technical domains within photonics excite you most right now, and why?
The technical area that excites me within photonics is the challenge of providing optimal photonic connectivity solutions within and between datacenters. This area has been important for quite a while but with the advent of AI and its rapid adoption by people and enterprises worldwide, the need for quicker and relevant innovations has only accelerated.
What’s your philosophy on the role of volunteerism in professional growth? What advice do you have for aspiring leaders who want to contribute meaningfully to the photonics community?
My philosophy is that volunteerism is a wonderful way to grow professionally. It provides opportunities to give back to the community that we benefit from, allows us to interact and expand our network with a set of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Engagement with other volunteers enables one to be exposed to different perspectives on numerous topics as well as helping one to shape and modify one’s own opinions and style of thinking based on the diverse views of others. These engagements and interactions ultimately make you a better decision maker in your own workplace.
What’s a fun or interesting fact about you that others might not know, such as a hobby, talent, and/or personal interest?
Traveling and playing tennis with my children.
