A central theme of our research is studying photonic physics for computing to enable new forms of information and signal processing, including photonic computing, neuromorphic photonics, and quantum neuromorphic photonics, extending the domains of artificial intelligence, neuromorphic computing, and quantum information. Our interdisciplinary approach involves combining nanophotonics (the study of light at small scales) and complex systems (e.g., neural networks) on emerging substrates (e.g., compound semiconductors on silicon, ferroelectric materials, and polymers). These photonic processors could enable real-time applications in mathematical optimization, signal processing (wireless and fiber-optic communications), scientific computing, machine learning, and quantum information science. Please visit Shastri Lab to find out more.

Honours and Awards (Selected)

Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Physics (2025)
Member of the College, The Royal Society of Canada (2024)
Science News (SN) 10 Scientists to Watch (2024)
Scientific Co-Director, NUCLEUS CREATE Program, NSERC (2024-)
Canada Research Chair in Neuromorphic Photonic Computing (2024-)
Early Researcher Award, Ministry of Colleges and Universities (2024-2019)
iCANX Young Scientist Award (2022)
SPIE Early Career Achievement Award - Academic (2022)
Vector Institute Faculty Affiliate (2020–2024)
IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Optics (2020)
OSA Senior Member (2020)
IEEE Senior Member (2019)
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, Government of Canada, NSERC (2014–2016)
D. W. Ambridge Prize, McGill University (2012)
IEEE Photonics Society Graduate Student Fellowship (2011)
NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2011–2013)
SPIE Scholarship in Optics and Photonics (2011)
IEEE Lance Stafford Larson Outstanding Student Award, IEEE Computer Society (2004)
IEEE Life Member Award, IEEE Canada (2003)

Selected Publications

Up To Date Publications List

Z. Lin et al. 120 GOPS photonic tensor core in thin-film lithium niobate for inference and in-situ training. Nature Communications 15, 9081 (2024).
S. Bilodeau et al. All-optical organic photochemical integrated nanophotonic memory: low-less, continuously tunable, non-volatile. Optica 9, 1242-1249 (2024).
A. McCaw et al. Reconfigurable quantum photonic circuits based on quantum dots. Nanophotonics 13, 2951–2959 (2024).
S. Shekhar et al. Roadmapping the next generation of silicon photonics. Nature Communications 15, 751 (2024).
W. Zhang et al. A system-on-chip microwave photonic processor solves dynamic RF interference in real time with picosecond latency. Light: Science and Applications 13, 14 (2024).
J. C. Lederman et al. Real-time blind photonic interference cancellation. Nature Communications 14, 8197 (2023).
W. Zhang et al. Broadband physical layer cognitive radio with an integrated photonic processor for blind source separation. Nature Communications, 14 (2023).
J. Ewaniuk et al. Imperfect quantum photonic neural networks. Advanced Quantum Technologies, 2200125 (2023).
M. J. Filipovich et al. Silicon photonic architecture for training deep neural networks with direct feedback alignment. Optica 9, 1323–1332 (2022).
M. Tamura et al. Inducing optical self-pulsation by electrically tuning graphene on a silicon microring. Nanophotonics 11, 4017-4025 (2022).
I. Taghav et al. Polymer modulators in silicon photonics: review and projections. Nanophotonics 11, 3855–3870 (2022).
C. Huang et al. A silicon photonic-electronic neural network for fibre nonlinearity compensation. Nature Electronics 4, 837–844 (2021).
B. J. Shastri et al. Photonic for artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing. Nature Photonics 15, 102–114 (2021).
[Book] P. R. Prucnal and B. J. Shastri, Neuromorphic Photonics, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida (2017).