Hello, I'm Dominic Thompson
I'm an engineering physicist specializing in software engineering, with interests in photonic integrated circuits and high-performance computing.
I'm currently a MASc candidate at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, working with Prof. Stephen Hughes and Prof. Nir Rotenberg.
I’m excited to transition to industry and apply my optics and high-performance computing background to solve high-impact engineering challenges.
Camping in Ontario
About Me
Photonics for Quantum 2025, Waterloo, Ontario
Grand Forks, British Columbia
Background
My entire life, I’ve been fascinated by the ability of physics and mathematics to explain the world. That curiosity led me to study a broad range of topics, from thermodynamics to topology and many areas in between, and ultimately to to pursue a master’s degree in optics and high-performance computing. Through this work, I’ve found myself consistently drawn towards engineering and its potential to turn these ideas into technologies that move the world forward. My research has been deeply rewarding, and I’m excited to work with a team to create tangible technologies that make a meaningful impact.
Education
I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Engineering Physics with a specialization in Computing from Queen’s University in 2024. After completing my undergraduate degree, I pursued a master’s degree in optics and high-performance computing to deepen my expertise in photonics. My research centers on the inverse design of grating couplers and photonic crystal waveguides for nonlinear quantum optics, and I currently have one published paper. Throughout this work, I have been particularly interested in creating designs that remain effective under realistic fabrication variations, with the goal of reducing loss and improving device yield. To gain a stronger understanding of industry practices, I am also enrolled in the AIM Photonics PIC1 course, where I am designing a simple transceiver as part of a complete photonic integrated circuit workflow.