Jacob Lopez, a recent graduate from Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona, has joined the team at Hart Scientific Consulting International, better known as HartSCI, as an engineering intern. He came to this position through the Career and Technical Education program at Tucson Unified School District after taking the dual credit Engineering class offered at his school. He graduated this past May in the top 10 of his class and will further his education at the University of Arizona in the fall, joining the College of Engineering and the W.A. Franke Honors College.
Jacob is gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge optical technology through an internship with HartSCI, a company at the forefront of adaptive optics research and development. This opportunity marks a significant step for Jacob as he explores the real-world applications of science and engineering beyond the classroom.
Adaptive optics is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of wavefront distortions, often caused by atmospheric turbulence. It plays a crucial role in astronomy, laser communications, and vision science. At HartSCI, Jacob is learning how adaptive optics systems use deformable mirrors and wavefront sensors to sharpen images and enable precise measurements in challenging environments.
Throughout his internship, Jacob has been working alongside engineers and scientists, helping with lab setups, data analysis, and simulations. He’s also had the chance to observe how theory meets practice, gaining insight into how innovation happens in the field. Jacob’s passion for physics and engineering has grown through this experience, and he’s now considering pursuing optical engineering or physics in college. His time at HartSCI is not only enriching his education—it’s shaping his future.