Aaron Mok Email & Phone Number

United States

Broadband Plasma Patterned Wafer Inspection System

SYSTEM TESTING: Developed Python scripts to test the impact of temperature changes on objective lens aberrations. Created new metrology techniques to measure field-dependent aberrations resulting from lens heating.OPTICAL MODELING: Developed an optical model using partial coherence theory and aberration model, resulting in <1% prediction error in new features development. Presented it to a division-wide audience of 100+ professionals.REQUIREMENTS DEFINITION: Defined 100+ imaging system requirements, including nanometer-scale actuator specifications for performance-critical lenses.IMAGING SYSTEM DESIGN LEADERSHIP: Led the development and qualification of a next-generation imaging subsystem, collaborating with optics, optomechanics, and software teams to establish and document critical specifications and designs.

Broadband Plasma Patterned Wafer Inspection System

OPTICAL SYSTEM INNOVATION: Earned accolades from the optics team for pioneering a data-utilization method, mitigating risks and projecting next-gen system aberrations.NEXT-GEN PRODUCT LEADERSHIP: Spearheaded the imaging sub-system development for an advanced product, bridging design engineers across optics, optomechanics, and manufacturing to crystallize vital specifications.ENHANCED OPTICAL SENSOR QUALIFICATION: Defined the benchmarks for optics, optomechanics, and software for a state-of-the-art optical sensor. This innovation resulted in a two-fold increase in field-of-view and resolution, substantiated by rigorous system testing and the creation of a lifetime expectancy model.PRECISION SYSTEM TESTING: Wrote Python scripts to evaluate a novel mechanical stage sub-system, pinpointing and rectifying micron-scale discrepancies and bolstering optical sensitivity.CUSTOMER ESCALATION RESOLUTION: Collaborated with senior engineers to tackle customer-reported issues and rectify optical performance degradation. Utilized comprehensive analysis via JMP and MATLAB to optimize system calibrations and aberrations.

Ithaca, New York Area

Supervisor: Prof. Chris XuPATENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR MICROSCOPE ENHANCEMENT: Secured a provisional patent for the "Optical Pulse Generator and Method," magnifying the imaging field-of-view in laser scanning microscopes from 0.25 mm^2 to > 9.5 mm^2.SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION: Crafted a microscope blueprint leveraging the "Optical Pulse Generator and Method" patent, enabling large field-of-view imaging while adhering to the photon budget constraints.MICROSCOPE SUBSYSTEMS LEADERSHIP: Directed the integration of crucial microscope subsystems, including optics, sensors, optomechanical parts, stage, and software, partnering with vendors for bespoke component adjustments.INNOVATIVE PUBLICATION IN SPECTROSCOPY: Authored a paper on a groundbreaking spectroscopic device, which can measure micron-scale samples, a significant advancement from the traditional centimeter-scale requirements of conventional devices.TENFOLD DATA THROUGHPUT INCREASE FOR SPECTROSCOPY: Automated the data acquisition and analysis pipeline for the spectroscopic setup using LabVIEW and MATLAB, boosting data processing speeds by a factor of ten.FEATURED ZEMAX CASE STUDY IN SPECTROSCOPY: Contributed a case study to Zemax's platform, contrasting the performance of our spectroscopic measurement device against traditional methodologies with Zemax non-sequential simulation.GRIN LENS DESIGN BREAKTHROUGH: Addressed high pulse energy and geometric imaging challenges by innovatively crafting a new GRIN lens using Zemax.FRUIT FLY BRAIN IMAGING INNOVATION: Collaborated with neuroscientists on through-cuticle multi-photon imaging in Drosophila melanogaster, highlighting the air-sac's role and debunking cuticle pigment myths. This research led to a first-authored publication in eLife.THREE-PHOTON MICROSCOPE ENHANCEMENT: Constructed a Bessel beam laser scanning three-photon microscope, uncovering that Gaussian beams are over ten times more power-efficient than Bessel beams in multiphoton imaging.

Greater New York City Area

Supervisor: Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz Lab PRECISE IN-VIVO MOUSE BRAIN MANIPULATION: Achieved accurate stimulation and recording, underscored by the effective implantation of electrodes and fiber bundles, using meticulous surgical techniques.DEEP INSIGHT INTO MOUSE EPILEPSY VIA OPTOGENETICS: Garnered comprehensive insights into epilepsy in mouse brains through optogenetics stimulation, endoscopic fluorescence imaging, and electrode recording.MEDICAL SHADOWING & SURGICAL OBSERVATION: Accompanied doctors in patient consultations, deliberated over challenging cases, and witnessed endonasal tumor removal surgeries firsthand.

Applied Life Photonics Lab

Supervisor: Prof. Kevin Tsia and Prof. Kenneth Wong DEVELOPED A 1MHZ YTTERBIUM FIBER LASER: Fine-tuned to a 1 µm central wavelength with a 40nm bandwidth, enhancing optical coherence tomography (OCT) from kHz A-scan rate to MHz.OCT SYSTEM DESIGN: Built an Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging setup and partnered with biologists to investigate regenerative processes in planarians, culminating in a first-authored publication in conference proceedings.CANCER CELL CYCLE CLASSIFICATION WITH ULTRAFAST IMAGING FLOW CYTOMETRY: Utilized ultrafast (10MHz line rate) QATOM imaging in an autofocusing microfluidic channel to capture and assess thousands of label-free breast cancer cells. Successfully classified cancer cell cycles with an accuracy exceeding 80%.OPTICAL SYSTEM AND fMRI INTEGRATION: Engineered an MRI-synchronized optical system for in-vivo optogenetics-fMRI studies, ensuring efficient optical power delivery to rat brains using multi-mode optical fibers and Arduino controls. This work culminated in a publication in PNAS.SPATIAL LIGHT SHAPING: Assembled a wide-field fluorescence imaging system employing a spatial light modulator. Crafted a patterned optical power delivery mechanism via fiber bundles for enhanced endoscopic experiments, seamlessly controlled and synchronized using LabVIEW.

Biomedical, Optical & Precision Engineering Unit

PROSTHETIC DEVICE RESEARCH & DESIGN: Contributed to rigorous desktop research, supporting the development of client-centric prosthetic device strategies and designs.INNOVATIVE CONSULTING IN CONTACT LENS METROLOGY: Proposed solutions essential for a start-up's success and guided the patent registration process in the niche of contact lens measurement and design.

Cardiac Biomechanics Lab

Supervisor: Prof. Mark Ratcliffe and Dr. Liang GeCOAPSYS DEVICE VIRTUAL SURGERY SIMULATIONS: Executed advanced virtual surgeries for treating functional mitral regurgitation using finite element analysis techniques. This meticulous approach directly contributed to the preparation of a detailed manuscript, "Patient Specific Finite Element Analysis on Ventricular Function after Coapsys: 1-year and 3-year results" (Awaiting submission).CARDIAC CELL SIMULATION ENHANCEMENT: Expertly optimized software for simulating individual cardiac cell performance with C++ and Fortran.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Under the supervision of Prof. Chris Xu in School of Applied and Engineering Physics

Master Of Philosophy - Mphil, Electrical And Electronic Engineering

Bachelor’S Degree, Marketing/Marketing Management, General

Bachelor’S Degree, Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Calligraphy Society (Founding Committee) ,Union Philharmonic Orchestra & Hong Kong Youth Symphonic.