Koç University Microphotonics Research Laboratory (KUMRL) focuses its experimental research efforts on application areas such as optical fiber communication, silicon photonics, laser spectroscopy, and laser diagnostics. The research encompasses the design, fabrication, characterization, and testing of novel optoelectronic devices. Photonic structures such as high quality factor optical microcavities as well as novel dielectric and semiconductor materials such as black silicon are used for the realization of these optoelectronic devices.

Research projects are sponsored by Koç University, Yale University, Alcatel-Lucent Technologies, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK), NATO, The British Council, The European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), and The European Commission.

The research laboratory is located at the Koç University Rumelifeneri campus, in the Science building and has 120 m2 usable area. The main equipment includes fast pulse lasers (Nd:YAG, dye, CO2, N2, excimer, Ti:Al2O3), and CW tunable semiconductor diode lasers (800-1600 nm), optoelectronic communication test and measurement equipment, optical spectrometers (300-3000 nm), optical tables, and various state-of-the-art optoelectronic and optomechanical equipment.

Joint research efforts are conducted with Glasgow University, Strathclyde University, Essex University, Harvard University, and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome. The former student members of the laboratory continue their academic careers at Yale University, Boston University, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Southern Methodist University, University of Twente, and Hasselt University. Former graduates are currently working in the Intel Corporate Research Laboratories, Silicon Photonics Research Group and JDSU Research Laboratories in Silicon Valley, California, Middle East Technical University, Department of Economics, Ankara and Ondokuz Mayıs University, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Samsun.