Braden Boucher

Optics and photonics engineer with published research in optoelectronic device characterization. Developing practical AI-driven applications for iOS and the web.

CLEO 2026
Publication

Silver Epoxy Bonding of III-V Laser Dies on Silicon

CLEO 2026 · First Author
MDPI Sensors
Publication

Solid-State LiDAR & Metasurface-Based Sensors

MDPI Sensors 2025 · Second Author
Presentations
Presentations

Conference Presentations

6 talks · CLEO, Harvard, U of A, NCUR & more
ColorCoded
Product

ColorCoded Music

iOS · Swift · CoreML · YOLOX
Workspace
Product

Workspace MVP

Next.js · Firebase · AI
History Legends
Product

History Legends

React · Vite · Firebase
StockFlow
Product

StockFlow

React Native · Expo · Firebase
Experience
Experience

Experience & Research

Draper Lab, BSU Research, Teaching
© 2026 Braden Boucher
CLEO 2026

Effect of Silver Epoxy Bonding of III-V Laser Dies on Silicon for LiDAR Applications

CLEO 2026 · First Author

Bonding micron-scale III-V laser dies to silicon using silver epoxy. Wall-plug efficiencies up to 20%, infrared output above 10 mW, and a modest efficiency reduction from 14.9% to 14.2% post-bonding.

Sensors

A Review of Solid-State LiDAR Principles and Metasurface-Based LiDAR Sensors

MDPI Sensors 2025 · Second Author

Literature review covering 100+ papers on solid-state LiDAR principles, metasurface-based LiDAR sensors, and recent advances in beam steering, phase shift, and field of view.

Presentations

2026
CLEO poster

Effect of Silver Epoxy Bonding of III-V Laser Dies on Silicon for LiDAR Applications

CLEO · Charlotte, NC · May 2026

Upcoming presentation at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics.

PosterHarvardHarvardHarvard

Temperature Dependent Optoelectronic Characterization of III-V Laser Dies on Silicon

Harvard NCRC · Cambridge, MA · January 2026

Presented at the Harvard National Collegiate Research Conference.

ArizonaWyant

Effect of Silver Epoxy Bonding of III-V Laser Dies on Silicon

U of A Winter School · Tucson, AZ · January 2026

Presented at the University of Arizona Winter School.

2025

Lensed Fiber Coupling for Efficient Laser Diode Characterization

BSU Mid-Year Symposium · December 2025

Fiber coupling techniques for efficient laser diode characterization.

Optoelectronic Characterization of III-V Laser Dies

NCUR · Pittsburgh, PA · April 2025

National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

2024

Optoelectronic Characterization of III-V Laser Dies

MA Undergraduate Research Conference · Amherst, MA · April 2024

Massachusetts statewide undergraduate research conference.

Workspace

Workspace MVP

Web Application · Next.js

Overview

Workspace MVP is an AI-powered productivity platform that combines the flexibility of a freeform canvas with the structure of spreadsheets and the intelligence of natural language AI. It's designed for individuals and small teams who need a single environment to organize information, run calculations, and take action — all through conversation.

Rather than switching between a notes app, a spreadsheet, and a chat interface, Workspace brings everything into one unified space where blocks of content live on an infinite canvas and can be manipulated by AI or by hand.

Screenshots

Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2

Key Features

  • Infinite canvas with draggable, resizable content blocks (CanvasBlock architecture)
  • Integrated AI spreadsheet — read and write cell data, format columns and rows through natural language
  • Action confirmation UI with undo support for AI-triggered operations
  • Full-text search across all blocks with ⌘+F keyboard shortcut
  • Real-time sync with Firebase Firestore for persistence and collaboration
  • Deployed on both Vercel and Railway for flexibility and longer timeout support

Technical Stack

Next.js 14ReactFirebaseFirestoreVercelRailwayAI Integration
History Legends

History Legends

Web Game · React

Overview

History Legends is an educational RPG-style quiz game designed to make studying AP United States History engaging and effective. The game covers all 7 APUSH eras with over 345 carefully balanced questions, organized across 40 nodes on a progression map. Players advance through historical eras, earn experience, and unlock new content as they master the material.

The game features custom sprite art for each era, generated through a combination of Leonardo.ai for image-to-image processing and Gemini for text-to-image generation, followed by a Python cleanup pipeline for background removal and consistent sizing.

Screenshots

Battle gameplay
Quiz gameplay

Key Features

  • 345+ carefully balanced quiz questions across 7 APUSH eras with answer length ratios between 1.2–1.8x to prevent guessing by length
  • 40-node progression map with branching paths and era-specific challenges
  • Custom sprite art pipeline: AI generation → Python cleanup (flood-fill background removal, resize to 512px height)
  • RPG-style experience system with leveling, unlockable content, and era completion tracking
  • Responsive design that works on desktop and mobile browsers
  • Deployed on Firebase Hosting with Git-based CI/CD workflow

Technical Stack

ReactViteFirebase HostingLeonardo.aiGeminiPython
StockFlow

StockFlow

Cross-Platform App · React Native

Overview

StockFlow is a cross-platform inventory management application built for construction companies and field teams who need to track materials, tools, and supplies across job sites. The app runs on both iOS and web, giving office managers and on-site workers a shared real-time view of inventory levels, movements, and usage history.

Designed around the daily workflows of construction operations, StockFlow replaces clipboard-and-spreadsheet tracking with barcode scanning, real-time sync, and role-based access — reducing errors, preventing stockouts, and saving hours of manual data entry every week.

Screenshots

Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3

Key Features

  • Barcode scanning for rapid item lookup and check-in/check-out workflows
  • Cross-platform: native iOS experience via Expo with a full web version at the same URL
  • Real-time inventory sync across all connected devices via Firebase Firestore
  • Role-based access control for managers, supervisors, and field workers
  • Gmail SMTP Cloud Function for password reset and account management emails
  • Responsive web interface that works on tablets and desktops for office use

Technical Stack

React NativeExpoFirebaseFirestoreCloud FunctionsBarcode API

Experience & Research

Optics-Physics Sensor Engineering Co-Op

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory · Jan–Jun 2025

Built and optimized optical breadboard test setups. Characterized PIC structures including MZIs, edge couplers, and spirals. Developed Python and MATLAB scripts for data processing.

Undergraduate Researcher

Bridgewater State University · Jan 2024–Present

IV, LIV, and optical spectrum characterization of DFB and Fabry-Perot laser diodes. Honors thesis on III-V laser diodes on silicon. Supported by Adrian Tinsley Grant.

Research Assistant for NSF Grants

Bridgewater State University · Jan 2023–Present

PIC and QPIC characterization, heterodyne detection, sustainable manufacturing. Python scripts for data analysis across multiple grant-funded efforts.

Teaching Assistant, Physics I

Bridgewater State University · Sep–Dec 2024

TA for General Physics I. Assisted students, taught sessions, held office hours.