Hi There! I’m Alain Abou Khalil, a research engineer in laser-matter interaction
Come Explore
Thank you for taking the time to visite my website! Please explore my site to learn more about me and my background. If you have questions or would like to discuss an opportunity to work together, feel free to get in touch.
![Abou_Khalil_alain7219.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_9069ba9977f845d0acd3321826cc7cf3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1470,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_9069ba9977f845d0acd3321826cc7cf3~mv2.jpg)
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Bio
My Story
Recently joined the ALPhANOV team as an R&D project manager for european and national projects in the field of femtosecond laser processing of dielectric materials.
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Previously, a researcher engineer on laser structuring of medical implants to control cell adhesion at Université Jean-Monnet as well as a research engineer at Bordeaux University.
Holder of a Ph.D. in Physics from Université Laval in Québec, Canada, and a Ph.D. in laser, matter, and nanosciences from the University of Bordeaux, France. I work on femtosecond laser processing of materials for 8 years now.
![Red%2520Light%2520Art_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_103c9e980c3b49e8b75cb0ef5a05bc0f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_103c9e980c3b49e8b75cb0ef5a05bc0f~mv2.jpg)
Experience
R&D engineer, ALPhANOV
January 2022 - Present
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R&D Engineer working on various European projects in the field of laser processing of dielectrics and surface texturation of metals
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Using ultrafast laser processing technique to create optical components
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Managing European and national projects
Reseach engineer, Hubert-Curien Laboratory
March 2021 - December 2021
Working on a multidisciplinary European project Laserimplant on laser structuring of dental implants to improve osseointegration in jaw bones
Responsible of the laser-matter interaction experiments
Acquiring and building the necessary laser setups for laser processing
Beam shaping for exotic ultrafast laser processing
Co-responsible of the upscaling process of a moveable laser prototype structuring dental implants
Organizing and attending meetings with the different project partners
Research engineer, CELIA
Jan 2019 - Jan 2021
Responsible of the design, acquisition and assembly of a microfabrication laser setup
Testing, optimisation and validation of new laser processing protocols for additive manufacturing of exotic glasses, as part of the international PROTEUS project
Working on femtosecond laser writing in glasses
Mentoring doctoral students and interns
PhD candidate,
Université Laval
Jan 2015 - Nov 2018
Performing laser writing on transparent materials
Creating and characterizing the first waveguides and optical components in silver containing glasses using femtosecond laser
Designing, mounting and aligning optical setups
Working with free space optics and fiber optics
Simulating light propagation in waveguides
Planning and managing travels and experiments
End product: Creating integrated sensor in glass chips
PhD candidate,
University of Bordeaux
Jan 2015 - Nov 2018
International PhD with Université Laval, Québec, Canada
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_9c9c0b13923c42d5bb3da94137669f7ef000.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1742,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_9c9c0b13923c42d5bb3da94137669f7ef000.jpg)
My Skills
Laser-matter interaction
Expert in laser-matter interaction going from glass to metals passing by polymers
Fiber optics skills
During my past experience, I had many opportunities to work with fiber optics setups where IÂ developed some skills in the field
Free space alignment
Many years of experience of optical alignement in free space and mounting laser processing setups
Communication & organization skills
Working with international and multidisciplinary partners, I managed to develop and grow good communication and organization skills
Projects
The different projects I am/was involved in
![Image by Bogdan condr](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_e631758e5b7a479dbb27d5ba4d1db052~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/nsplsh_e631758e5b7a479dbb27d5ba4d1db052~mv2.jpg)
LaserImplant Project
European Project
The project activities pave the pathway for commercialisation of laser-functionalized implants, the exploration of industrial up-scaling strategies (including a demonstrator of implant functionalization machines to be conceived and built at the end of the project), and the dissemination and exploitation of the results.
![IMG_9680_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_816bf6426916454abd52fdc548601e77~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_816bf6426916454abd52fdc548601e77~mv2.jpg)
Femtosecond laser writing in silver containing glasses
International PhD
This project consisted on optimizing and writing optical components in exotic glasses; silver containing glasses. The end product of this project was the creation of an integrated refractive index sensor in a 1 cm glass chip.
![Untitled.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_1c9d259534834ba3bc0a585c76718d12~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_526,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_1c9d259534834ba3bc0a585c76718d12~mv2.jpg)
FUNGLASS project
European project
FUNGLASS integration in photonic devices and components addresses one of the most crucial challenges in research and innovation which lies in the design and manufacturing of optical components and systems. It proposes interdisciplinary European scale staff exchange programme with unique positioning on laser/field 3D nano/micro patterning and functionalizing of novel photonic glass materials allowing fabrication of sophisticated components and systems on their own.
![3D Printing Machine_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_626739e98c2f46d0928393cc23f24156~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_421,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_626739e98c2f46d0928393cc23f24156~mv2.jpg)
PRinting of ExOtic multi maTErials fibers (PROTEUS) Project
International project
The PROTEus project focuses on 3D laser printing and multi-materials multifunctional fibers, combining glass, glass-ceramics and metals, aiming for new fiber-based technological paradigms. The PROTEus project, by taking full profit of the scientific ecosystem between the University of Bordeaux and the University of Laval, envisions implementing new research activities on multimaterial fibers fabrication and on laser-assisted processing.
Outreach activities
European Researchers' Night 2021
October 2021
This European Researchers' Night is above all an invitation to share the same evening with speakers from all walks of life in friendly dialogue conditions, for simple and unique exchanges.
European Researchers' Night 219
Septembre 2019
Participating in the "Speed searching" and "Meet in the dark" experience.
OSA/OPTICA Student chapter
2016 - 2018
I was a member and at some point Vice-President of the Student chapter of the University of Bordeaux
SPIE Student chapter
2015 - 2018
I was one of the first members of the SPIE Student chapter and became the Vice-President in 2018 at the University of Bordeaux
![Image by Jen Theodore](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_4e6b385179563373706f41~mv2_d_2000_3008_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_213,h_320,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20Jen%20Theodore.jpg)
"Fall down seven times, stand up eight"
Japanese proverb
![Scientist on Tablet_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/44caf1_43ef53e37bbf48a894f66196ccc027c4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/44caf1_43ef53e37bbf48a894f66196ccc027c4~mv2.jpg)