Current Position
LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES
Lidar sensory perception for the vehicle safety & autonomous mobility, Orlando, FL
Vice President of Product (2024 - present)
Senior Director of Product (2021 - 2024)
Director of Technology Strategy (2015 - 2020)
OPEN PHOTONICS, INC
Product design and development through Open Innovation, Orlando, FL
Director of Research & Development (2013 - 2015)
AEROSONIX, INC
Medical drug delivery through compact nebulization, Orlando, FL
Director of Research & Development (2013 - 2015)
Committee & Board Appointments
CREOL, the College of Optics & Photonics - UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Advisory Board
Member (2019 - present)
FLORIDA PHOTONICS CLUSTER
Board of Directors
Member (2018 - present)
NATIONAL PHOTONICS INITIATIVE
Strategic Steering Committee
Member (2012 - 2021)
Taskforce on Education & Workforce Development
Chair (2014 - 2018)
OSA, THE OPTICAL SOCIETY
Public Policy Committee
Chair (2012 - 2018)
NAS Report Dissemination Advisory Committee
Member (2012-present)
BIONUTRIENT FOOD ASSOCIATION
Technical Advisory Board
Member (2015 - 2016)
Education
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics - Orlando, FL
PhD Optics
MS Optics
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
School of Science, Physics - Troy, NY
BS Physics, with minor in Management & Technology
Academic Research
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics - Orlando, FL
Graduate Research Assistant to Winston V. Schoenfeld PhD, Nanophotonic Device Group (2007 - 2013)
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (2006 - 2007)
Department of Physics - Troy, NY
Undergraduate Research Assistant to Peter Persans, PhD
Lally School of Management & Technology - Troy, NY
Past Industrial Experience:
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (2009)
Technology Transfer Office, UCF - Orlando, FL
Technical Writer
KOLLMORGEN ELECTRO-OPTICAL (2006)
Photonic Masts - Northampton, MA
Systems Engineer Co-Op
Service & Leadership
OSA, the Optical Society at UCF (2010 - 2012)
Student Chapter President
Awards & Honors:
Publications:
Issued Patents (40)
2025
US 12,306,309 Lidar system with locally retraced scan lines
2024
US 12,066,575 Lidar system with adjustable pulse period
US 11,933,895 Lidar system with polygon mirror
US 11,874,401 Adjusting receiver characteristics in view of weather conditions
2023
US 11,841,440 Lidar system with high-resolution scan pattern
US 11,686,821 Scan patterns for lidar systems
US 11,609,329 Camera-gated lidar system
US 11,567,200 Lidar system with polygon mirror
2022
US,11,442,150 Lidar system with spatial light modulator
US 11,415,677 Pulse timing based on angle of view
US 11,415,675 Lidar system with adjustable pulse period
US 11,378,666 Sizing the field of view of a detector to improve operation of a lidar system
US 11,353,559 Adjustable scan patterns for lidar system
2021
US 11,194,048 Lidar system with high-resolution scan pattern
US 11,022,688 Multi-eye lidar system
US 10,976,417 Using detectors with different gains in a lidar system
2020
US 10,641,874 Sizing the field of view of a detector to improve operation of a lidar system
US 10,591,601 Camera-gated lidar system
US 10,557,940 Lidar system
US 10,557,939 Lidar system with improved signal-to-noise ratio in the presence of solar background noise
2019
US 10,488,496 Lidar system with improved scanning speed for high-resolution depth mapping
US 10,418,776 Solid-state laser for lidar system
US 10,401,481 Non-uniform beam power distribution for a laser operating in a vehicle
US 10,310,058 Concurrent scan of multiple pixels in a lidar system equipped with a polygon mirror
US 10,267,899 Pulse timing based on angle of view
US 10,267,898 Scan patterns for lidar systems
US 10,254,388 Dynamically varying laser output in a vehicle in view of weather conditions
US 10,209,359 Adaptive pulse rate in a lidar system
2018
US 10,088,559 Controlling pulse timing to compensate for motor dynamics
US 10,012,732 Lidar system
US 9,958,545 Lidar system
US 9,905,922 Self-Raman laser for lidar system
US 9,897,687 Lidar system with improved scanning speed for high-resolution depth mapping
US 9,874,635 Lidar system
US 9,869,754 Scan patterns for lidar systems
US 9,857,468 Lidar system
2017
US 9,841,495 Lidar system with improved scanning speed for high-resolution depth mapping
US 9,823,353 Lidar system
US 9,810,786 Optical parametric oscillator for lidar system
US 9,810,775 Q-switched laser for LIDAR system
Journal Publications
Conference Proceedings
Other Presentations
LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES
Lidar sensory perception for the vehicle safety & autonomous mobility, Orlando, FL
Vice President of Product (2024 - present)
Senior Director of Product (2021 - 2024)
- Set product strategy and enable roadmap by guiding engineering requirements and assessing solution appropriateness
- Synthesize voice of customer to understand automotive sensing demand, use case, and product landscape
- Support business development in customer pain point discovery and value proposition development
- Serve on Intellectual Property Council to identify and assess patent and trademark priorities
- Serve on Mergers and Acquisitions Council to identify and assess business and product growth opportunities
Director of Technology Strategy (2015 - 2020)
- Maintain technology and product development roadmap
- Scouted for and built relationships in technologies areas key to company roadmap
- Facilitate execution of cross-organizational strategic technology and production objectives
- Maintain Autonomous Mobility market and competitive landscape for executive consumption
OPEN PHOTONICS, INC
Product design and development through Open Innovation, Orlando, FL
Director of Research & Development (2013 - 2015)
- Scouted for and built relationships in technologies in the areas of optical meta-materials, anti-reflection fibers, multi-spectral imaging, and thermal infrared sensing technology
- Analyzed markets and competitive landscapes for portable spectroscopy, spectral imaging, super-continuum laser source, and spectrally selective LED light sources
- Identified available technologies from academia and small-businesses with commercial potential for client corporation needs
- Created technology focused business development and marketing materials
AEROSONIX, INC
Medical drug delivery through compact nebulization, Orlando, FL
Director of Research & Development (2013 - 2015)
- Lead cross-functional team – engineering, supply chain, production – toward volume-ready prototype
- Developed and executed failure mode effects analyses and engineering of existing product offerings in the personal medical device industry
Committee & Board Appointments
CREOL, the College of Optics & Photonics - UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Advisory Board
Member (2019 - present)
- Advise college in achieving the program’s mission and goals and to assist in being recognized national and internationally for excellence in photonics
FLORIDA PHOTONICS CLUSTER
Board of Directors
Member (2018 - present)
- Advise technical industry cluster with regard to local and international network building, regional and national advocacy initiatives, and local educational initiatives.
NATIONAL PHOTONICS INITIATIVE
Strategic Steering Committee
Member (2012 - 2021)
- Authored the NPI's response to OSTP's 2014 Strategy on American Innovation request for information
- Set strategy for a National Photonics Initiative to unify American efforts in research, technology development, and training
- Advised a joint international professional society communications team on the dissemination of the National Academy of Science’s report, Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for Our Nation
Taskforce on Education & Workforce Development
Chair (2014 - 2018)
- Assembled geographically representative taskforce made up of educators, academic leadership, industrial leadership, and development organizations to develop federal policy recommendations
OSA, THE OPTICAL SOCIETY
Public Policy Committee
Chair (2012 - 2018)
- Guide the political advocacy effort of the international optics community on behalf of the Optical Society's 17,000+ members
- Established relationships with House and Senate offices from FL, OR, MO, and VA to relay the importance of federal research investment and support of commercialization efforts
- Generated policy statements for immigration, natural resource management, and journal open access
NAS Report Dissemination Advisory Committee
Member (2012-present)
- Advised a joint international professional society communications team on the dissemination of the National Academy of Science’s report, Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for Our Nation
- Establishing a National Photonics Initiative to unify US efforts in research, development, and education
BIONUTRIENT FOOD ASSOCIATION
Technical Advisory Board
Member (2015 - 2016)
Education
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics - Orlando, FL
PhD Optics
MS Optics
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
School of Science, Physics - Troy, NY
BS Physics, with minor in Management & Technology
Academic Research
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics - Orlando, FL
Graduate Research Assistant to Winston V. Schoenfeld PhD, Nanophotonic Device Group (2007 - 2013)
- Conduct ongoing collaborative research with a focus on integrated photonic devices for applications in quantum information science, laser sources, and optical circuitry through design, simulation, fabrication, and test.
- Experienced in the design and simulation of passive photonic devices including the use of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD), Plane Wave Expansion (PWE), coupled mode theory, and ad hoc programing in MatLab.
- Experienced in the fabrication of micro- and nano-scale structures in Si and GaAs material systems though UV and E-beam lithography processes, wet and dry etching, thermal and E-beam metal deposition, rapid and gradual thermal annealing, and imaging using optical, electron, and atomic force microscopy.
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (2006 - 2007)
Department of Physics - Troy, NY
Undergraduate Research Assistant to Peter Persans, PhD
- Characterized both commercial (Daystar Technologies) and experimental thin film Cu(In, Ga)Se photovoltaic cells by means of electro- and photo-reflectance modulation and photo-luminescence
- Completed coursework of a standard physics curriculum with a focus in solid state materials and optics. Supplemented program with extensive coursework in business, finance, and management.
Lally School of Management & Technology - Troy, NY
- Completed 32 credit hours of coursework in management, economics, finance, and marketing including case study analysis.
Past Industrial Experience:
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (2009)
Technology Transfer Office, UCF - Orlando, FL
Technical Writer
- Summarized US Patent documentation of 46 UCF owned technologies into one-page briefs for license marketing purposes (examples available upon request)
- Analyzed a 9-piece intellectual property portfolio and developed a report targeting viable markets for licensing negotiation
KOLLMORGEN ELECTRO-OPTICAL (2006)
Photonic Masts - Northampton, MA
Systems Engineer Co-Op
- Developed quantitative, image-resolution benchmarks across business units for naval periscopes.
Service & Leadership
OSA, the Optical Society at UCF (2010 - 2012)
Student Chapter President
- Wrote and won $10k in grants to fund educational outreach and professional development activities
- Developed and led Optics Educators’ Day to better prepare local K-8 teachers in the presentation of optics and physics in their curriculum. Attendees represented 10 Orange County, FL schools
- Built partnerships in local education community and led 34 outreach events reaching over 2100 students, teachers and parents, in more than 15 schools around Florida
Awards & Honors:
- Integrative Graduate Education & Research Traineeship Program (IGERT) fellowship recipient (2007 - 2009)
- Phalanx Society Inductee & President (RPI) – Recognition of leadership roles in Residence Life, community service, athletics, and campus events (2006)
Publications:
Issued Patents (40)
2025
US 12,306,309 Lidar system with locally retraced scan lines
2024
US 12,066,575 Lidar system with adjustable pulse period
US 11,933,895 Lidar system with polygon mirror
US 11,874,401 Adjusting receiver characteristics in view of weather conditions
2023
US 11,841,440 Lidar system with high-resolution scan pattern
US 11,686,821 Scan patterns for lidar systems
US 11,609,329 Camera-gated lidar system
US 11,567,200 Lidar system with polygon mirror
2022
US,11,442,150 Lidar system with spatial light modulator
US 11,415,677 Pulse timing based on angle of view
US 11,415,675 Lidar system with adjustable pulse period
US 11,378,666 Sizing the field of view of a detector to improve operation of a lidar system
US 11,353,559 Adjustable scan patterns for lidar system
2021
US 11,194,048 Lidar system with high-resolution scan pattern
US 11,022,688 Multi-eye lidar system
US 10,976,417 Using detectors with different gains in a lidar system
2020
US 10,641,874 Sizing the field of view of a detector to improve operation of a lidar system
US 10,591,601 Camera-gated lidar system
US 10,557,940 Lidar system
US 10,557,939 Lidar system with improved signal-to-noise ratio in the presence of solar background noise
2019
US 10,488,496 Lidar system with improved scanning speed for high-resolution depth mapping
US 10,418,776 Solid-state laser for lidar system
US 10,401,481 Non-uniform beam power distribution for a laser operating in a vehicle
US 10,310,058 Concurrent scan of multiple pixels in a lidar system equipped with a polygon mirror
US 10,267,899 Pulse timing based on angle of view
US 10,267,898 Scan patterns for lidar systems
US 10,254,388 Dynamically varying laser output in a vehicle in view of weather conditions
US 10,209,359 Adaptive pulse rate in a lidar system
2018
US 10,088,559 Controlling pulse timing to compensate for motor dynamics
US 10,012,732 Lidar system
US 9,958,545 Lidar system
US 9,905,922 Self-Raman laser for lidar system
US 9,897,687 Lidar system with improved scanning speed for high-resolution depth mapping
US 9,874,635 Lidar system
US 9,869,754 Scan patterns for lidar systems
US 9,857,468 Lidar system
2017
US 9,841,495 Lidar system with improved scanning speed for high-resolution depth mapping
US 9,823,353 Lidar system
US 9,810,786 Optical parametric oscillator for lidar system
US 9,810,775 Q-switched laser for LIDAR system
Journal Publications
- M.D. Weed, C.G. Williams, J.D. Ryckman, S.M. Weiss, P.J. Delfyett, W.V. Schoenfeld, Resonance uniformity of coupled-resonator optical waveguides, Optics Letters - submitted (April 2013)
- M.D. Weed, C.G. Williams, P.J. Delfyett, W.V. Schoenfeld, Symmetry Considerations for Closed Loop Photonic Crystal Coupled Resonators, Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol.31, no.9 (2013)
- H.P. Seigneur, M.D. Weed, M.N. Leuenberger, and W.V. Schoenfeld, Controlled On-Chip Single-Photon Transfer Using Photonic Crystal Coupled-Cavity Waveguides, (Invited Paper) Advances in OptoElectronics (2011)
Conference Proceedings
- M.D. Weed, C. Williams, P.J. Delfyett, W.V.Schoenfeld, Feedback in coupled-resonance optical waveguides, CLEO 2012, Proc. OSA (2012)
- M.D. Weed, H.P. Seigneur, and W.V. Schoenfeld, Cladding index engineering of the photonic properties of single-mode photonic crystal devices, Optics & Photonics 2010, Proc. SPIE, Vol. 7764, 776403 (2010)
- M.D. Weed, H.P. Seigneur, M.N. Leuenberger, and W.V. Schoenfeld, Optimization of complete band gaps for photonic crystal slabs through use of symmetry breaking hole shapes, Photonics West 2009, Proc. SPIE, Vol 7223, pp. 72230Q-72230Q-9 (2009)
Other Presentations
- M.D. Weed, From Smart Phones to Smart Agriculture, (Invited Talk) Lonestar Community College (2014)
- M.D. Weed, Contemporary Science: Insights into the modern scientific establishment, (Invited Talk) McMinnville Rotary (2012)
- H.P. Seigneur, M.D. Weed, G. Gonzales, and M.N. Leuenberger, and W.V. Schoenfeld, The Physics and Challenges of Realizing Quantum Teleportation Using Quantum Dots Within a Quantum Network, (Invited Talk) NanoFlorida (2009)
- H.P. Seigneur, M.D. Weed, M.N. Leuenberger, and W.V. Schoenfeld, Self-assembled quantum dots within photonic crystal nanocavities for the realization quantum networks, (Invited Talk) Particles (2008)
