Tightbeam Photonics Team

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Mark is a co-Founder and systems engineer and MDA alumnus who builds the tech that powers our reach into space. From satellite infrastructure to complex robotics, Mark focuses on turning high-level mission goals into reliable, flight-ready reality. He thrives at the intersection of complex problem-solving and systemic reliability.

Prof. Suresh Sivanandam is a systems-focused astrophysicist and entrepreneur at the intersection of deep-space instrumentation and commercial innovation. As the CTO and Co-founder of Tightbeam, Suresh translates his world-class expertise in adaptive optics and high-precision sensors into scalable technology. His career began with foundational systems engineering at MDA, a tenure that instilled a rigorous approach to building hardware that must perform in the most unforgiving environments.
​Beyond the boardroom, Suresh is a renowned researcher focusing on the evolution of galaxies across the nearby and distant Universe. His work explores the complex interplay between a cluster’s halo of gas and the star formation within individual galaxies. This research is powered by instruments he helped bring to life, including the Wide Integral-Field Infrared Spectrograph (WIFIS)—currently operating at the Steward Observatory—and his leadership on the Gemini Infrared Multi-Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS).

Dr. Ryan Dungee is a Systems Lead and Optical Engineer at Tightbeam, where he specializes in the complexities of optical free-space propagation and advanced telescopic systems. Originally from Las Vegas, Ryan holds a BA and MSc in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a second MSc and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Hawaiʻi. Currently a Dunlap Fellow in Toronto, he applies his expertise in adaptive optics and atmospheric characterization to bridge the gap between deep-space signals and ground-based reception. Outside of engineering high-speed communication links, Ryan is an avid distance runner, a dedicated sci-fi and fantasy reader, and a bird photographer—a hobby that mirrors his professional mastery of precision lenses.

Dr. Robin Swanson is a Systems Engineer at Tightbeam and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dunlap Institute, specializing in the intersection of computational photography and astronomical imaging. With a PhD from the University of Toronto, Robin’s expertise spans adaptive optics and machine learning, tools he uses to optimize optical free-space propagation through complex environments. His technical foundation includes an MSc from KAUST and a BSc in Physics and Computer Science from the University of Manitoba, supplemented by high-level research at the Vector Institute for AI. With a diverse professional pedigree including internships at Facebook Reality Labs (Oculus) and TRIUMF, Robin bridges the gap between sophisticated computer vision and the physical hardware of next-generation telescopic systems.