Jenny Sun

There's something inherently beautiful about manipulating light to transfer information through space, and it brings me joy to apply these elegant fundamental concepts to important applications.

When did you join the Laboratory, and what made you decide to pursue a career here?

I joined the Lab in March 2022. The Lab has a great reputation as a rigorous R&D institution that cultivates a mission-driven pseudo-academic environment. I knew I wanted to work on projects that push boundaries while having tangible near-term impact, so the Lab seemed like a great fit for me.

I was particularly excited to work on lasercom [laser communications], especially given the Lab's strength and influence in this field. There’s something inherently beautiful about manipulating light to transfer information through space, and it brings me joy to apply these elegant fundamental concepts to important applications. It’s satisfying to be developing real systems and influencing the next generation of lasercom terminals.

What are your hobbies?
I love to try new things, and some of my explorations have become long-term hobbies. Violin and music, photography, skiing, and painting each hold an important place in my life. I also love to travel, and I incorporate my hobbies in my travels whenever I can.

Do you have any pets?
I work for a small tuxedo cat named Gracie (aka Kitty Bear aka KB). She enjoys running around the living room on top of the window treatments, and her favorite part of the day is when we do our tricks-for-treats ritual. I hope to have a dog one day — perhaps an Australian Shepherd to keep KB on her toe beans!