Don Carlin

Donald B. Carlin

Recognized for his expertise in developing and commercializing lasers, optical communications, data storage, display technologies, and cardiovascular devices, Dr. Carlin has been a senior executive and entrepreneur at the Conversus Group, Melcor, Optex Communications, and the Sarnoff Corporation.

Dr. Carlin is currently Senior Vice President at Medeikon Corporation, a venture aimed at providing medical devices for diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease based on optoelectronic technologies. He is responsible for managing the technical effort and intellectual property, and is a key member of the executive team’s financing activities.

Dr. Carlin was Senior VP of Strategy and Business Development at Melcor Corporation in 2002 – 2003. Melcor is a leading provider of thermoelectric coolers and thermal management systems. Dr. Carlin developed and implemented strategies for the company, including acquiring synergistic companies and new technologies. He focused the engineering and sales teams to address new and growing markets.

In 1997, Dr. Carlin rejoined the Sarnoff Corporation to lead teams of researchers in the development of new technology, application of state-of-the-art solutions to client product requirements, and the creation and support of new companies. Princeton Lightwave, Secure Products, and Luminiphor were formed based on this effort. Dr. Carlin’s work spanned advanced displays, micro-electromechanical systems, phosphor materials, and semiconductor laser components for a wide range of clients that included emerging ventures, large corporations, and the US Government.

At Optex Communications, from 1993 to 1997, Dr. Carlin was Senior VP and CTO, where he led the development and engineering of high-speed optical storage for video and data applications. He was responsible for providing strategic technical direction and achieving technical and business milestones.

From 1981 to 1993, Dr. Carlin was at Sarnoff and its predecessor, RCA Laboratories, first as member of the technical staff and then as manager of an R&D group in optoelectronic devices and systems. He chaired the International Conference on Optical Memory in 1993 as well as presiding over numerous other technical conferences.

He has managed outsourced R&D programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Central Florida School of Optics, and the City University of New York.

Dr. Carlin received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. from Yale University in laser physics in the Engineering and Applied Science Department. He did post-doctoral research in liquid crystals at Harvard University in the Division of Applied Sciences.