Optica Awards Theodor W. Hänsch Prize: People in the News: 04/19/23

The Optica Foundation awarded the inaugural Theodor W. Hänsch Prize in Quantum Optics to Victoria Xu, a postdoctoral scholar at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research LIGO Laboratory. The prize recognizes Xu’s contributions in using quantum optics to fundamentally improve metrology through large-scale interferometers and advanced gravitational wave detection.

GARDNER, Mass. — Optical technology designer and manufacturer Precision Optics Corp. appointed Mahesh Lawande COO, effective April 24. Lawande will lead the company’s sales and marketing and production and engineering activities at its facilities in Massachusetts, Maine, and Texas. Lawande served as director of operations at Analogic Corp., and vice president of manufacturing and operations at Third Pole Therapeutics. He previously held operations and engineering roles at Siemens, Draeger, and Draeger Medical Systems.

Peter Moselund, CEO of the Swiss Photonics Integration Center. Courtesy of Swiss PIC.

VILLIGEN, Switzerland — The Swiss Photonics Integration Center named Peter Moselund CEO. Moselund previously served as principal research scientist at NKT Photonics and is the founder of fiber laser startup PM² Photonics. He also serves as chairman of the board at Shute Sensing Solutions.

Jim Weiler, group CEO of LiteSentry, Softsolution, and Strainoptics. Courtesy of Softsolution.

BURNSVILLE, Minn. — LiteSentry, Softsolution, and Strainoptics appointed Jim Weiler group CEO. Weiler most recently served in an executive leadership capacity at Walman Optical. He formerly spent 20 years with Chart Industries in product development engineering and product management.