Fabless Design of Photonic Integrated Circuits within the AIM Photonics Foundry (PIC-1)

Learn about the new paradigm of fabless photonic chip design from course instructor Prof. Stefan Preble of the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Take a deep-dive into fabless photonics design using industry-leading Electronic Photonic Design Automation (EPDA) software to model, simulate, layout, and error-check a photonic integrated circuit for high-tech applications.

COURSE TYPE: Online instructor-led on a course schedule
DATES: February 6 - April 17, 2026
DURATION: 10 weeks total (8 weeks online instruction + 2 weeks to complete design)
COURSE COMMITMENT: ~10–20 hours a week
PREREQUISITES: A background in silicon photonics (equivalent to the Fundamentals of Integrated Photonics), fiber optics, or III-V semiconductors is recommended, but not required. Proficiency in linear algebra and calculus will enhance understanding of design concepts.

Course Description and Objectives

This course is structured around the design of a basic transceiver (fiber-coupler+modulator+detector). It begins with an overview of fabless PIC design and a review of passive silicon photonic devices (waveguides, bends, splitters/combiners and interferometers). Participants are then guided through the step-by-step process of designing a transceiver chip with two primary active devices (electro-optic modulator and photodetector). The course culminates in the tape-out of an electro-optically active PIC chip suitable for fabrication through AIM Photonics’ Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) services.

Participants will acquire a mastery of Electronic Photonic Design Automation (EPDA) using Ansys Lumerical photonics simulation and design software and open source KLayout layout software in combination with AIM Photonics’ Academic Process Design Kit (PDK) to learn how to interpret design guides, leverage hierarchical design, and ensure that the design can be manufactured through design rule checking (DRC).* You’ll learn how to model photonic devices and create compact models for them; how to simulate, layout, and DRC-check a PIC; and create modular building blocks and address performance trade-offs in fabless circuit design.

After completion of the course, select submitted PIC tape-outs may be eligible for submission to an AIM Photonics Multi-Project-Wafer (MPW) run.

*If a participant currently has access to Synopsys Optocompiler they will be able to access the Synopsys materials

Registration

Registration for the February 6 - April 17, 2026, course is now closed.

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Course Instructors

Prof. Stefan Preble, Rochester Institute of Technology

Stefan Preble is a Professor in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. His research is focused on integrated photonic chips aimed at realizing high performance computing, communication and sensing systems that leverage the high speed, bandwidth and sensitivity of light. Stefan’s work has been recognized with a DARPA Young Faculty Award and an AFOSR Young Investigator Award; his publications have appeared in Nature Photonics, Optics Express, Applied Physics Letters, and Physical Review Letters.

Prof. Jaime Cardenas, University of Rochester

Jaime Cardenas is an Assistant Professor in The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester. His research is focused on photonics packaging, 2D materials integrated photonics, nonlinear photonics, and on-chip quantum photonics. Jaime’s publications have appeared in Nature Photonics, Optica, Optics Express, and Physical Review Letters.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How is the coursework structured?

  This online course runs over a 10-week period. There are eight weeks of synchronous instruction with self-paced video lectures, homework assignments, design project milestones and a weekly webinar. The remaining two weeks of the course are devoted to the final design project, including the submission of a final report and GDS design file suitable for submission to the AIM Photonics foundry.

• Is there a textbook for this course?

  There is no textbook assigned for this course. However, the textbook “Silicon PhotonicsDesign: From Devices to Systems” (by Lukas Chrostowski and Michael Hochberg) is a helpful reference for supplementing and fortifying your understanding of many key concepts introduced in this course.

• Can anybody register for this course?

  As an education offering of AIM Photonics, we adhere to the registration guidelines of the United States Office of Foreign Assets and Control (OFAC) sanctions list. U.S. laws and regulations prevent us from allowing persons ordinarily resident in certain countries and regions from participating in this course. Consequently, individuals ordinarily resident in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region of Ukraine may not register. In addition, persons listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Parties list maintained by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Entities List maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce are prohibited from participating.

• How do I access the EPDA software and AIM Photonics Academic PDK?

  Participants will be given instructions to access Ansys Lumerical, KLayout, and the AIM Photonics Academic PDK on the course website. If a participant currently has access to Synopsys, they can opt to use this software instead during the registration process.
  
  Ansys Lumerical and KLayout: installed on your computer (check that your computer meets the minimum recommended requirements: Ansys Information on Hardware Specifications and System Requirements)

  Access to the AIM Photonics Academic Process Design Kit (PDK) will be provided after agreeing to the terms of the AIM Photonics Academic PDK User License Agreement.

• When will I receive my certificate?

  Students who pass the course will have the option to receive an RIT Certified Credly Course Completion Badge for an additional fee of $25 per badge.

• Is there any opportunity for me to participate with my final design tape-out in an AIM Photonics fabrication run?

  Yes, successful completion of this course requires that students submit a final design tape-out electronic file (GDSII) that could—in principle—be submitted the very next day to an AIM Photonics multi-project wafer (MPW) fabrication run. Of those who have successfully completed this course, the best tape-out design submissions will be selected for inclusion in an AIM Photonics MPW run. Please inquire with the primary course instructor to learn more about this opportunity.