A 1989 master’s degree project at the MIT Media Lab saw Mary Lou Jepsen co-create one of the first fully computed digital holographic video systems. Since that academic milestone, her career as a computer scientist and entrepreneur has focused on the commercialization of display, projection, and imaging systems across the technology industry.
Academic Foundation and Early Research
Born in 1965 in Windsor, Jepsen completed an Sc.B. in Electrical Engineering and an A.B. in Studio Art at Brown University. Her advanced studies at MIT centered on holographic imaging. She later earned a Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from Brown, where she designed electronically tunable metamaterials. Before her doctorate, she served as a computer science professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, a Senior Fellow at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, and a San Diego Fellow at the University of California, San Diego.
Microdisplay Development and Intel
Jepsen co-founded MicroDisplay Corporation, serving as Chief Technology Officer to lead the creation of low-cost, single-panel microdisplay technology. She oversaw the construction of a manufacturing facility in Richmond, California, to support high-resolution device production. Following this tenure, she joined Intel as Chief Technology Officer of the Display Division, where she managed technology strategy for projection architectures and semiconductor integration.
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As the first employee and chief architect of the nonprofit One Laptop per Child, Jepsen directed the design of the $100 laptop. The device featured an innovative sunlight-readable screen and low power consumption, achieving a billion dollars in cumulative revenue. Building on this hardware experience, she founded Pixel Qi to develop transflective display systems for mobile devices, a firm eventually acquired by Google.
Large-Scale Tech Roles
During her time at Google, Jepsen led internal hardware initiatives including the modular "Lego TV" display system. She subsequently served as Executive Director of Engineering at Facebook and Oculus, contributing to the development of the Oculus Quest 2 virtual-reality headset. Her work at Meta involved research into sunglass-form-factor AR devices and foveated rendering technologies.
Medical Technology at Openwater
In 2016, Jepsen founded Openwater to develop noninvasive diagnostic and brain-computer interface platforms using ultrasound and infrared optics. Clinical studies began in 2020 at Hartford Hospital, followed by research at Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania. By 2024, the company transitioned from cart-sized units to wearables, and in 2025 initiated volume production in Taiwan.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Windsor
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Brown University, MIT
- Awards: Women in Technology Hall of Fame (2008)
- Awards: Edwin H. Land Medal (2011)
- Awards: Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Awards (2011)
- Awards: Fellow of the Optical Society (2012)
- Current Role: Founder and Executive Chairman of Openwater
Questions readers ask
What was the primary goal of the One Laptop per Child initiative?
The organization aimed to transform global education by creating and distributing low-cost, high-efficiency educational devices for children.
What technology does Openwater focus on?
The company develops noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic platforms that integrate focused ultrasound, infrared optics, and computational imaging.
Achievements
- Edwin H. Land Medal — 2011
- Women in Technology Hall of Fame — 2008
- Affiliated with Google and Meta
- Educated at Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
