People

Dr. Amged Alquliah is currently a postdoctoral research associate at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. Prior to joining Dartmouth, he held postdoctoral positions at the University of California, San Diego and Boston University. He earned his PhD in photonics engineering with honors from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022 and his MSc in communication engineering with honors from Kazan National Research Technical University, Russia, in 2017. He was awarded the World Academy of Sciences President’s Fellowship in 2018 and is a member of IEEE and Optica. His current research interests include integrated optics, silicon photonics, nanophotonics, and computational electromagnetics.

Felix Hoehner is a first-year PhD student and completed his MEng degree at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, with a concentration in systems engineering. He graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in May 2024. Previous work experiences include internships at Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney. His current research interests include silicon photonics and integrated photonics system design. Outside of the lab, you might find him in the bouldering gym, on the golf course, or with a paintbrush in hand, sitting in front of a canvas.

Evelyn Wilson is a first-year PhD student at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Computer Engineering in May 2025. Her prior work experience includes software engineering internships at Halliburton and InterWorks as well as signal processing research. Her current research interests are integrated photonics, quantum computing, and quantum integrated circuits. Outside of academics, Evelyn enjoys knitting, reading, and practicing yoga.

Kayley Galbraith is a first-year M.S. student at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. She graduated with a B.S. in physics and math minor from the University of Wyoming in May 2025. She has prior experience as a core neutronics design intern at BWX Technologies and as a WRSP fellow studying 2D graphene and solid-state hydrogen storage with the Tian Research Group. Her current research interests include nanophotonics, photonic integrated circuits, and biophotonics. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, hiking, and playing bassoon.

Joseph Quaratiello is an undergraduate student in Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering with minors in Materials Science and Physics. His research interests include integrated photonics and optical neural networks, and he is excited to explore other applications of photonic computing. Outside the lab and classroom, he plays power forward for Dartmouth’s Men’s Club Basketball Team and is a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Ben Sheppard is a 3rd year electrical engineering student in Thayer’s Bachelor of Engineering program. He joined the Rizzo Lab during his sophomore summer to learn more about innovations in integrated photonics and gain experience with university-level research. In the lab, Ben is working on modeling, simulating, and testing high-speed modulators and receivers with microring resonators. Outside of the lab, Ben is an athlete on the Dartmouth sailing team and enjoys skiing, traveling, and reading about history.