Our Team

Robert Karlicek, Ph.D.

Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Dr. Robert F. Karlicek, Jr. is the Director of the Center for Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an NSF and industry funded center exploring advanced applications for next generation solid state lighting systems.  Prior to joining RPI, he spent over 30 years in industrial research and R&D management positions at AT&T Bell Labs, General Electric, Gore Photonics, and Luminus Devices.  His experience includes epitaxial growth LEDs and lasers, advanced device fabrication and high power LED packaging, thermal management, control systems design and advanced applications using solid state lighting/IoT concepts. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and has over 64 published technical papers and 44 U.S. patents.

“Advanced LED system design with integrated sensing networks for dynamic control of optimized plant growth is one key to future food and water system sustainability” – Bob Karlicek