College of Engineering student honored in national optical design competition
Mohammad (Md.) Ariful Hoque Sojib, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), has been named a winner in the 2025 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition, hosted by Synopsys.
The award recognizes Sojib’s research in semiconductor infrared photodetectors for thermal imaging. His submission stood out for its well-defined problem statements, innovative solutions and the use of Synopsys’ simulation tools to demonstrate practical, real-world applications.
“I am truly honored to receive the 2025 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition award from Synopsys,” Sojib said. “This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication that went into my research, and it motivates me to continue advancing innovation in semiconductor infrared photodetectors for thermal imaging. I am deeply thankful to my mentors, collaborators and everyone who supported me along the way.”
The annual competition is open to students across North America who use Synopsys software tools — including CODE V, LightTools, LucidShape and RSoft Photonic Device Tools — in their optical engineering research. Awards are given to projects that demonstrate optical design excellence.
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Categories Electrical & Computer Engineering, Graduate Student Stories, Student Stories