Interviews with former Winners

“Vector magnetometry based on polarimetric optically-detected magnetic resonance”

What led you to your research field and thesis topic?

Even at the beginning of my studies, I was particularly enthusiastic about optics because the interaction between light and matter is so commonplace. For me, seeing is the most interesting interaction with my environment. So, the field of nano-optics quickly caught my attention. As a student assistant, I designed and set up a practical experiment about magnetic field measurement with optically detectable magnetic resonance (ODMR) and then carried out further experiments on this setup myself. This "play instinct" led to the first promising results, which is why I then delved deeper into the topic in my Master's thesis.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

For my Master's thesis, I worked on vector magnetic field measurement with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond - in other words, determining the strength and direction of a magnetic field with a quantum sensor. I am fascinated by the idea of using a relatively simple set-up consisting of an optical microscope, a microwave source, and a diamond sample to conduct quantum physics and that you can even actively work on research topics with it. The measurement of magnetic fields has many applications, for example the investigation of brain waves, GPS-free navigation, or the inspection of electrical assemblies. This enables us as a society to understand how our bodies function, to travel more safely and to improve the reliability of our infrastructure.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

I had already heard about the "Photonics Days Jena" via email, but it was my thesis supervisor who drew my attention to the "Applied Photonics Award". I was motivated to apply by the high profile of the Fraunhofer IOF and the associated Germany-wide appeal of the award.

What was your reaction when you found out you had won?

When I received the email with the prize notification, I was completely flashed and totally delighted. I forwarded the email directly to my Master's thesis supervisor and then called my girlfriend.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

For me, the "Applied Photonics Award" is a great appreciation for the time I put into my Master's thesis. Due to the corona pandemic, I never really had the opportunity to present my work in person and was therefore very pleased to share my results with an audience of experts. As well as a valuable accolade on my CV, I was able to make lots of contacts at the event with whom I may be able to collaborate in the future.

Would you recommend participating in the award, and if so, why?

The different subject areas within photonics that were honored this year and the support through special jury prizes show the diversity and topicality of the prize. I would therefore definitely recommend taking part in the prize for a thesis in the field of applied (quantum) optics!

"3D Laser Micro- and Nanoprinting: Faster, Finer, and More Affordable"

What led you to your research field and thesis topic?

I already wrote my Master's thesis in Prof. Martin Wegener's labs. Working on 3D Laser Micro- and Nanoprinting fascinated me right from the start.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

My thesis is about making 3D Laser Micro- and Nanoprinting faster, more affordable, and increasing the printing resolution. I enjoyed the broad scope of the work, encompassing optics, chemistry, but also some mechanics. In my opinion, we are still far from reaching the full potential of 3D microprinting and I am very excited what the future holds.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

The award is handed during the Photonics Days in Jena, which are co-organized by the Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP). Being a PhD-member of the MPSP called out my attention for the award.

What was your reaction when you found out you had won?

I felt and still feel very honored and excited!

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

Working on a PhD requires a good share of labor, dedication, and passion. I am very happy that this is being honored.

Would you recommend participating in the award, and if so, why?

Absolutely, I can only recommend other students to apply for the award, but also to participate at the Photonics Days in Jena.

"Modeling of thick photoresist for grayscale lithography application"

What led you to your research field and thesis topic?

In my academic journey, I developed a keen interest in the intersection of optics and fabrication processes. Recognizing the challenges in grayscale lithography with thick photoresists, I was intrigued by the potential applications in micro-optical component fabrication. The absence of predictive models for thick photoresists presented an exciting opportunity for me to contribute to this niche area within applied photonics.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

My Master's thesis focused on the "Modeling of thick photoresist for grayscale lithography application." The fascinating aspect was the potential of grayscale lithography using thick photoresists to revolutionize the fabrication of micro-optical components. The importance lies in the efficiency and precision it could bring to the process, ultimately contributing to advancements in optical technologies with applications ranging from communications to medical devices.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

I first heard about the "Applied Photonics Award" from my supervisor, who brought it to my attention within our academic and research community. The motivation to participate originated from the realization that this award offered a valuable platform to highlight and honor innovative contributions in applied photonics. Knowing that my research would be evaluated by experts in the field, as suggested by my supervisor, became a compelling driving force behind my decision to participate.

What was your reaction when you found out you had won?

Winning the “Applied Photonics Award” brought me immense joy and validated the hard work, innovation, and collaboration in my research. The recognition from respected professionals in applied photonics was not only personally rewarding but also affirmed the importance and impact of my work.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

The “Applied Photonics Award” means a lot to me. It not only validates my research but also opens doors to more opportunities in the field. This recognition can positively impact my future academic and professional pursuits, giving credibility to my work and possibly leading to valuable connections and collaborations within the applied photonics community.

Would you recommend participating in the award, and if so, why?

I strongly recommend others to join the “Applied Photonics Award”. It's a great way to present your innovative research, get noticed by experts, and build important connections. The experience is not just personally fulfilling but can also open up new opportunities and collaborations in the field of applied photonics for your academic and professional journey.

"Evaluating Diffractive Neural Network Architectures"

What led you to your research field and thesis topic?

After attending a lecture by Prof. Thomas Pertsch, I applied to the FSU Jena's honors program with him as my supervisor. I was already interested in research that combines photonics and artificial intelligence, so we decided to work on diffractive neural networks as part of this program. As this turned out to be a very interesting field of research for me, I later decided to write my final thesis on the subject.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

For my bachelor's thesis, I researched diffractive neural networks. This is a new technology that makes it possible to implement neural networks optically. This means that the information is no longer processed in electrical components but transmitted by light and manipulated directly optically. In my work, I have investigated the performance of different architectures of diffractive neural networks, including a new architecture that has led to a significant improvement in performance.

From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the idea of working on a topic that brings together photonics and artificial intelligence methods, as I see a lot of potential for interesting research here. I find diffractive neural networks particularly exciting, as they could be a promising alternative to conventional electronic hardware.

This also makes diffractive neural networks very relevant for society. If the remaining hurdles in implementation can be overcome, they could provide a very fast and energy-efficient alternative to electronic hardware. As neural networks are being used more and more in practice, such alternatives are very exciting.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

I was told about the "Applied Photonics Award" by Prof. Thomas Pertsch, who supervised my final thesis. I was immediately determined to apply, as the award was a good thematic fit for my work and the award winners in recent years have done really interesting research.

What was your reaction when you found out about the win?

I was of course delighted when I found out that I had won the "Applied Photonics Award" and told my family straight away.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

It is very important for me to receive such appreciation for my thesis. I am glad that others are also enthusiastic about my topic! I am sure that the the "Applied Photonics Award" will have a very positive effect on my future career in research.

Would you recommend participating in the award, and if so, why?

Of course, I highly recommend taking part! The application process is kept to a minimum and the focus is entirely on the thesis. As a result, there is nothing to lose and winning such an award is a very special experience.

»Nanocomposites as Next-Generation Optical Materials: Fundamental Properties and Potential«

What led you to your research field and thesis topic?

Before starting my doctorate, I worked in basic physics research. My master's thesis at that time was about exotic materials, so-called exitonic insulators. During this time, I learned a lot and also achieved exciting results, but I always lacked a connection to reality. I never had a good answer to the question "And what is all this good for?". That's why I was looking for an opportunity to work at the interface between research and real applications for my doctoral thesis.

Industrial research was very attractive to me. So I wrote an e-mail with my CV to a personnel officer at ZEISS, whom I already knew from a company visit. After a few weeks, I had an interview in Jena. Researchers from both FSU Jena and ZEISS were there. During the conversation, we directly discussed a lot about optical nanomaterials. I quickly realized that the position was exactly what I was looking for.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

The development of high-quality optical materials has played a central role in the last 200 years. Many people are not even aware of this. For example, without such materials, there would never have been the microscope that created many of the fundamental discoveries for our medicine today. Likewise, we would not have computer processors and similar microchips.

These are also manufactured using an optical process called lithography. Another example today is cell phone cameras. Optical materials play a central role in the development of all these systems. In order to achieve the highest possible optical quality, various materials with special properties are needed in such systems.

The central vision for my doctoral thesis was therefore to develop innovative materials for improving optical systems. For example, I looked into the question of whether we could use new materials to further improve the optical quality of cell phone cameras. In doing so, I focused on nanomaterials. More precisely, on materials in which an ordinary material is modified by adding nanoparticles.

In fact, there were many publications on such nanomaterials even before my work. However, until now there was hardly any work dealing with their practical application in real optical systems. Exactly at this point I started with my work.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

My PhD supervisor, Prof. Thomas Pertsch from FSU Jena, forwarded me the announcement for the "Applied Photonics Award". Then I took a closer look at the award and saw that the "Applied Photonics Award" is a Germany-wide research prize. So of course it is a great award. Two other points particularly convinced me. Firstly, the explicit focus on applications and secondly, the great opportunity for networking during the "Photonics Days" in Jena.

What was your reaction when you found out about the win?

I was very pleased and immediately told my wife about it. After that, I immediately checked my calendar to see if I could make it to the award ceremony in person.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

The award ceremony was only a few weeks ago now; so I can't say much about the aftermath yet. However, one of my basic principles is that good work is always the focus for me, not prizes and titles. So I don't hope that the prize will have a big impact on my career directly. Rather, I would like more researchers to look at my work and build on it. After all, there is still a long way to go before the concepts from my work can actually be used in everyday optical systems. For this to happen, researchers from different disciplines need to work together. In addition, feedback from other scientists, especially critical feedback, is a central pillar of science for me. Only when we point out critical points or open questions to each other can we effectively make progress. Therefore, I hope that a stronger dialog will emerge in the subject area of my work and that we will move forward together.

Would you recommend participating in the award, and if so, why?

Of course! The "Applied Photonics Award" is a great distinction as a Germany-wide research prize. With the "Photonic Days" in Jena, there is also a super supporting program where you can learn a lot and meet interesting people. This is especially valuable for graduates who want to make the leap from research to industry. In addition, the team of the "Applied Photonics Award" does a great job! From the award ceremony to the website, everything is very well organized and implemented.

"Untersuchungen zu linearen optisch-drahtlosen Frontends und applikationsspezifischen Freiformlinsen für die optisch-drahtlose Kommunikation"

(Studies of linear optical-wireless front ends and application-specific free-form lenses for optical-wireless communications.)

What led you to your research field and thesis topic?

I already came into contact with optical-wireless communication at Fraunhofer IPMS during my diploma thesis. Since there were still many open questions and the IPMS offered me a PhD position, I took the chance. Looking back, it was a very good decision. First, I oriented myself in the first six months in the subject area. Then, together with my supervising professor, I formulated the objectives of the thesis.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

My dissertation is about optical-wireless communication. Here, we use light to transmit data through free space - without any cables or fibers at all! In contrast to radio, communication usually takes place in spatially well-defined light cones. This enables interference-free data transmission with high data rates and low transmission latency, which plays a major role especially in industrial environments. My work considers not only the electronics of the communication devices, but also tailored free-form lenses. The combination of electronics and optics is particularly exciting for me. A highlight of my work is a fully functional communication module that can be easily integrated into existing Ethernet networks.

Modern communication networks are necessary for future applications such as autonomous driving, telemedicine, virtual presence and the advancing automation in industry. To meet the demands on the future communication infrastructure, heterogeneous communication networks are needed that combine a wide variety of technologies and exploit their individual advantages. Optical-wireless communication will be an important component of these communication networks.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

I was looking for award competitions in the field of applied photonics. Via a university website, I came across the "Applied Photonics Award". Since the call for entries fits well with the topic of a dissertation, it quickly became clear that this was the right place for me.

What was your reaction when you found out about the win?

I was very happy and toasted with friends and family.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

Receiving a research award is a great recognition of the work done and encourages you to keep working on topics. Especially on those that are not so easy to solve at first glance. Of course, a junior researcher award looks good on a resume.

Would you recommend participating in the award, and if so, why?

Yes, definitely. The "Applied Photonics Award" is a great opportunity to present one's work to a broad audience and to be recognized for it. The "Photonics Days Jena" were an interesting and well organized event for the award ceremony.

"Kaleidomicroscope - A Kaleidoscopic Multiview Microscope"

What led you to your research field and the topic of your thesis?

During my bachelor's degree at TU Munich, I had already worked on light field microscopy. At that time, I had difficulties understanding the physics behind microscopy, which is why I started my Master's degree at the University of Jena afterwards. After taking some lectures on microscopy and wave optics, I was supervised by Rainer Heintzmann on smaller research questions.

For my Master's thesis, I was still interested in Light Field Microscopy and wanted to do research in this area. Rainer Heintzmann and I then got in touch with the company "K|Lens" and Ivo Ihrke. So a positive synergy developed quite quickly between the three of us and we discussed various topics.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

"K|Lens" develops a camera lens that contains a kaleidoscope in the optical path. Through the kaleidoscope, one obtains several directions of view of the scenery with a single image. Analogous to humans, who perceive depth information through two eyes, the kaleidoscope also enables depth information to be extracted. This concept should now be transferred to microscopy. The combination of kaleidoscope and microscope gives rise to the name "kaleidomicroscope".

One encounters some practical and theoretical problems with this topic, which we tried to solve together in the course of the work. In the end, we were able to improve the initial concept by also placing a kaleidoscope with tilted mirrors in front of a microscope. This effect has not been observed in the literature before and allows higher resolutions compared to previous light field microscopes.

What excites me about this topic is its interdisciplinary nature. The design of the "kaleidomicroscope" and the description of it is physics. The data processing of the images requires a lot of computer science and programming. In addition, building the prototype requires manual dexterity. Ultimately, we hope the "Kaleidomicroscope" will allow us to obtain 3D images of samples at high frame rates and resolutions that have not been possible before.

How did you hear about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

Through social media, networks and events in Jena one often comes into contact with the institutes and relevant organizations, which is why the  "Applied Photonics Award" was a household name to me quite early on. Coincidentally, my flatmate Katrin Bihr is a former award winner, which further encouraged me to apply.

What was your reaction when you found out about the win?

Of course, one is very happy about such an award! Nevertheless, there are very many students who do great research and outstanding work. Also without the support of many people this award would not have been possible! This makes me then very quickly become humble, you must never stop and rest.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career? Would you recommend participation in the Applied Photonics Award competition to others, and if so, why?

It is a great chance to present your work to a larger audience. In addition, participation in the "Photonics Days" enables exciting discussions and meeting inspiring people. It is a beautiful event in a beautiful setting. One saying is always in my mind: Aim high, shoot high.

he possibility of an award often makes me work even more focused on topics, so the award can be a motivation even before the application.

"Gas Sensing with 2D-Materials on Exposed-Core Fibers"

What led you to your research field and the topic of your thesis?

I joined Dr. Falk Eilenberger's research group "Photonics in 2D Materials" at the Institute of Applied Physics in Jena with a student assistant position. The working group and the topics inspired me a lot, which is why I also wanted to do my Bachelor's thesis in this field. I found the topic particularly exciting because the so-called 2D materials on the exposed core of a light-conducting glass fibre were to be investigated here, which represents a completely new field of research.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

My thesis has the topic "Gas Sensing with 2D-Materials on Exposed-Core Fibers".

2D materials are molecularly thin and therefore have the largest surface-to-volume ratio imaginable. In addition, the semiconducting 2D materials, which emit light when excited, have special properties such as large exciton binding energies, strong interactions between light and matter and large charge carrier mobility.

The 2D material is deposited on the exposed core of a light-guiding fibre and thus has direct contact with the guided modes of coupled laser light and the environment at the same time. When specific gas molecules of the environment are adsorbed on the molybdenum disulphide monolayer (a 2D material used here), this has an influence on the photoluminescence. As part of my work, I investigated how different gas atmospheres around the coated fibre affect the measured spectrum of the light emerging from the fibre.

This measurement principle is relevant for novel gas sensing applications. Examples are the application areas of emission control, security or atmospheric observation, such as in weather balloons.

Wie bist du auf den Applied Photonics Award aufmerksam geworden und was hat dich motiviert teilzunehmen?  

My working group leader Dr. Falk Eilenberger motivated me to submit my application. I had already seen a poster in the Abbe Center of Photonics (Beutenberg, Jena) advertising the application for the "Applied Photonics Award".

What was your reaction when you heard about the win?

I was very happy and immediately called my family.

What is the significance of the Applied Photonics Award for you? What consequences did it have, especially for your studies and your career?

For me, the "Applied Photonics Award" is a nice enhancement of my Bachelor's thesis. It makes me proud that my work has been read and awarded in photonics circles.

Would you recommend participating in the Applied Photonics Award competition to others, and if so, why?

Yes, I would recommend applying for the award to anyone who has written their thesis in the field of applied photonics. The award ceremony itself was a nice event where you could network with representatives from other fields of applied photonics. On the same day, there was a very inspiring tour of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena. The trophy presented at the award ceremony is a real eye-catcher. Another aspect not to be neglected, is the prize money, for which everyone will probably quickly find a meaningful use. So what are you waiting for? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Herstellung und Charakterisierung von Femtosekundenlaser-legierten Nickelnetzelektroden für die alkalische Wasserelektrolyse"

(Fabrication and characterization of femtosecond laser-alloyed nickel mesh electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis)

What led you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

I already came into contact with lasers during my bachelor’s thesis in the field of additive manufacturing and I already found the broad application field of lasers fascinating at that time. Through a student assistant position at the Energy Storage Technologies Research Center in the field of material functionalization, I got to know another and new area of application and was given the opportunity to write my master's thesis in that field.

What was the topic of your master’s thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

My master's thesis presents a new three-step femtosecond laser alloying method that can be used to increase the electrode activity of nickel mesh electrodes for the hydrogen evolution side in alkaline water electrolysis by incorporating catalyst material. This method results in a wide range of applications, although the focus lies on generating and storing hydrogen due to current climate objectives. This is because existing technologies can be improved and made more efficient by minimizing the electrochemical loss phenomena. I was excited by the fact that large effects can be achieved with this simple method.

How did you come to know about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

My supervisor and group leader Dr. Thomas Gimpel brought the award to my attention, and I participated out of pure curiosity. Also, I thought that it would be a great appreciation for our research group if more attention was focused on the research field of material functionalization using femtosecond lasers.

What was your reaction when you heard that you won?

I actually had to read the news about winning the award several times until I really understood that I had won. But in the end, I was very happy about it.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? What consequences did it have, especially for your further studies and your career?

Winning the Applied Photonics Award is a great appreciation for all the work I have done and the frustrating moments that I sometimes experienced while putting my paper together. It also rounds out my resume and my entire academic history. 

Would you encourage others to apply for the award, and if so, why?

I would definitely recommend participating in the award, as it provides the opportunity to once again receive outside appreciation and to present the topic in front of a specialist audience.

"Transverse mode instability - Insights into modal energy transfer in high-power fiber lasers"

What led you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

During my studies at the Ernst Abbe University in Jena, I was very fascinated by laser technology and its application potential. After I had dealt with ultrashort pulse disk lasers in my master's thesis at the Jenoptik company, an exciting challenge of a doctorate in the group of Prof. Jens Limpert at the Institute of Applied Physics at the University of Jena was offered to me. I had the opportunity to do research on one of the most promising laser technologies of our time: the fiber laser. With my doctoral thesis I was part of an international research group of the German Research Foundation.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

High-power fiber lasers have been enabling new applications for several decades and have thus been drivers of innovation. However, even these systems eventually reached previously unknown physical limits. One of the biggest challenges for the further power scaling of fiber lasers is the effect of "transverse mode instability". As soon as the systems enter certain power ranges, the quality and stability of the laser beam abruptly deteriorates. The high beam quality is characteristic of the fiber laser, which together with high laser power is essential to enable future applications. In my PhD thesis I built up new knowledge on the effect of mode instability and developed practical suppression concepts. This allowed me to make a small contribution to the development of even more powerful fiber lasers.

In this way, it may be possible to solve urgent problems in the future, such as the disposal of space debris. There are currently research projects investigating how ground- or satellite-based lasers can be used to deflect space debris particles so that they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere and no longer pose a threat to satellites.

How did you come to know about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

Since there is a close cooperation between the Institute of Applied Physics at the University of Jena and Fraunhofer IOF, I had known about the Applied Photonics Award for a couple of years. Since a fiber laser is one of the best examples of an innovation driver in the field of applied photonics, my PhD thesis was a great fit here. Also, the time and effort to apply for the award was quite low, and most of the work I had already done during the 5 years of my PhD.

What was your reaction when you heard that you had won?

I was very thrilled to receive the news of my win by e-mail. Even better was the festive presentation of the prize during the "Photonics Days Jena" at Fraunhofer IOF with the laudation of the Nobel Prize winner in Physics from 2020 Prof. Reinhard Genzel. A great honor.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? What consequences did it have, especially for your further studies and your career?

I am very pleased to have received the award from a jury of industry and science representatives, as it shows great appreciation for my scientific work. It was great to be able to give a short talk as part of the award ceremony and thus offering my doctoral topic a stage with a wide reach. As a result of the talk and the subsequent discussions, I was also able to expand my personal network, which will be very valuable for my future career.

Would you encourage others to apply for the award, and if so, why?

I can only encourage everyone to apply. The barrier is low, the audience and the networking effect are great, and the prize money will certainly be useful.

"Tiefenmessung in endoskopischen 3D-Systemen"

(Depth measurement in 3D endoscopic systems)

What led you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

At the Tuttlingen university campus, we cooperate closely with industrial partners. Already during my studies, the company KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG provided me with insights into technology and production during industrial internships. Working with endoscopes and image processing represented an exciting area of application for me during my studies. That's why I applied to KARL STORZ for a thesis topic in the Research and Development department.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

A variety of different methods already exist for determining three-dimensional depth information. When used in applications, the depth information can help to accurately evaluate the viewed surface and measure it. Minimally invasive procedures in the human body with rigid stereo endoscopes represent a possible field of application. In my thesis, a method was developed to evaluate images of a stereo endoscope to determine the depth of an object point in front of the endoscope. The depth information from multiple points is then used to generate a surface profile. It was during my bachelor’s thesis that I first realized how extensive the possibilities of image processing are – the measurement method described above just scratched the surface. By making depth perception quantifiable through appropriate image analysis, shapes and object sizes inside the body, such as tumors, can be objectively measured and documented. This can facilitate communication between medical professionals and enable more accurate diagnosis or therapy.

How did you come to know about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

The Fraunhofer IOF call for papers was forwarded via the general mail distribution list of the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena, where I am now studying for my master's degree. I was motivated by the idea of being able to present the topic of my final thesis and to draw attention to the potential of such an application. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to come into contact with representatives of the scientific community and discuss ideas for optimization and further development with them. The prospect of the award itself and the prize money are of course also an incentive.

What was your reaction when you heard that you had won?

At first, I looked at the sender of the mail, as I briefly thought it was one of those “you've won” spam messages. But when the content became clear to me, I was completely thrilled and jumped around the apartment.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? What consequences did it have, especially for your further studies and your career?

The award showed me that the efforts during my bachelor's thesis were worthwhile and that the work does not necessarily have to disappear in the drawer immediately after completion. Even small advances can contribute to generating ideas and perhaps one day make a difference in practice in how image processing methods are used for medical diagnostics. I am particularly pleased that my work with a practical approach was selected. It can thus contribute a counterweight and pragmatic complement to the otherwise more theoretical work in academia.

In any case, the prize gives me self-confidence for my master's thesis which will be due next year. It will also be helpful as a reference for my future job search. I will certainly contact the people I met during the Photonics Days Jena.

Would you encourage others to apply for the award, and if so, why?

I can definitely recommend participating. Applying for the Applied Photonics Award is straightforward and an opportunity not to be missed. I can only recommend all students who are enthusiastic about their research projects to apply for an award like the Applied Photonics Award. It is a wonderful opportunity to present one's topic to a broader audience and thus inspire others to do the same.

"Development of a New Approach of Evaluating Process Stability of the Laser-Powder Bed Fusion Process with Deep Learning"

What led you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

In my master’s thesis I dealt with the additive manufacturing process Laser-Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF). I had my first contact with this process during my bachelor’s thesis and was immediately enthusiastic about it. During my master's degree program, I focused on this research area. When I was looking for a topic for my master's thesis, I became aware of the Chair for Non-Destructive Testing at the Technical University of Munich. At this chair I wrote my master’s thesis in cooperation with BMW AG.

What was the topic of your master’s thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

My thesis was about the quantification of deviations in the L-PBF process. This quantification is done using so-called welding lenses, which are created by the melting and cooling process. The shape of the welding lenses is a direct process indicator and allows us to draw conclusions about the energy input and the resulting microstructure. A method was developed to automatically measure the welding lenses in micrographs over the entire sample. Before my master's thesis I had little knowledge of digital image processing and machine learning. Therefore, I learned a lot during my work. What fascinated me about this topic was the challenge of developing the new methodology and the potential that it offers. My hope is that this methodology will be used in industry and research to better understand the L-PBF process.

How did you come to know about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate? What was your reaction when you heard that you won?

I learned about the Applied Photonics Award through the Fraunhofer IOF website. Since I considered the topic of my work to be relevant to the photonics industry, I decided to apply for the award. After all, you have nothing to lose by participating. When I heard about winning the prize, I was very happy. I am very grateful for the appreciation of my work through the award.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? What consequences did it have, especially for your further studies and your career?

The Applied Photonics Award is a great honor for me and a unique selling point in my resume. I am currently doing a doctorate at the Technical University of Munich. I feel that the award is a great motivation for my research.

Would you encourage others to apply for the award, and if so, why?

Absolutely. At first, I didn't know what to expect at the award ceremony, but it was a very nice evening event with great guests and lectures. I especially enjoyed being presented the award by Prof. Andreas Tünnermann. I can warmly recommend the application for the Applied Photonics Award to everyone.

"Powerscaling of ultrafast thulium-doped fiber laser systems"

What led you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

During the basic studies, it was mandatory to choose a specialization subject in preparation for the bachelor thesis. My choice fell on the lecture "Fundamentals of Laser Physics" by Prof. Jens Limpert. Of course, I did not realize that this choice would determine a large part of my career so far. I subsequently completed an internship and my bachelor thesis in the research group "Fiber- and Waveguide lasers". Inspired and motivated by my experiences there, I began a master's degree in photonics at the "Abbe School of Photonics" and the "College for Optics and Photonics" (CREOL) in Florida. At CREOL I already specialized in power scaling of Q-switched, thulium-doped fiber lasers. During my stay, Prof. Limpert offered me to start a Ph.D. with the topic "Power scaling of ultrafast thulium-doped fiber laser systems" in his group. An offer I accepted with great pleasure.

What was the topic of your master’s thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

One of the main motivations of my work was to create the basis for the generation of laser-like radiation in application-relevant wavelengths far away from the emission ranges of conventional lasers. The focus here is on the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and the THz range. As part of my work, I was able to identify the advantages of long-wavelength laser radiation for efficient frequency conversion to these ranges. At the same time, I made significant progress in the power scaling of ultrafast thulium-doped fiber lasers. Thus, I was able to provide characteristic data for these exotic wavelength ranges, which today can only be generated by extremely expensive large-scale research facilities, such as synchrotrons. In addition to these unique characteristics, the resulting potential arises from the inexpensive and uncomplicated possibility of establishing these sources for novel applications in our daily lives.

How did you come to know about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate? What was your reaction when you heard that you won?

A colleague drew my attention to the award and inspired me to apply. I never thought that my work would be chosen, and I was very happy about the jury award.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? What consequences did it have, especially for your further studies and your career? How did you use the prize money?

It is a great honor for me to have been awarded the jury award for outstanding scientific work. As I continue to research in this field, this award increases the visibility of my current work, which makes me very happy. It may even lead to projects and application fields in the future through new contacts that would otherwise have remained hidden from me. With the prize money, I will probably buy an electric piano.

Would you encourage others to apply for the award, and if so, why?

Applying for the award was a way for me to look back on all the years of hard work, but especially the many happy moments and successes. In that sense, the application itself was a gift and would have been worth it even without the award. I would recommend it to everyone!

"Advances and Applications of Molecular Absorption Spectrometry: from Non-Metals to Isotope Analysis"

What led you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

Originally, I worked on the topic of fluorine analysis. However, I quickly realized during my research that the methods and instruments I developed could be applied to other non-metals. One day I was able to detect a shift in the wavelength in the spectra. This indicated that an isotope shift was taking place. This then led me to a fundamental aspect of my work– namely, isotope analysis using optical spectroscopy.

What was the topic of your final thesis? What fascinated and excited you about it? Why is your topic important for society?

In my thesis, “Advances and Applications of Molecular Absorption Spectrometry: from Non-Metals to Isotope Analysis,” I used a fundamental physical principle (isotopic shift in in-situ generated diatomic molecules) and instrumentation and developed novel artificial intelligence evaluation methods which are necessary to determine the isotopic composition of specific samples and reference materials. Since every place in the world has its typical isotopic fingerprint, I have thus developed a method that enables origin determination.

I am fascinated that in my work I have developed a method for isotope determination for the first time that is as precise as the prevailing mass spectrometry but has the advantage of being faster, cheaper and more energy-efficient. What excites me is that it makes it possible to determine the point of origin of food, conflict minerals, and many other materials and products. This is how many socially relevant application areas are being opened up using optical spectroscopy and new analysis methods.

How did you come to know about the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate? What was your reaction when you heard that you won?

The award is very well known among scientists working in the field of photonics. My PhD supervisor and other scientists I work with brought the award to my attention. I was very motivated because I saw the potential of this prize to show the scientific community that my work is basic research but has a lot of potential applications. When I got the news that I had won, I was of course very happy, as these potential applications were apparently also acknowledged by the jury.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? What consequences did it have, especially for your further studies and your career? How did you use the prize money?

The Applied Photonics Award means to me that other scientists recognize the future potential and relevance of my work. This has given me additional encouragement for my further scientific work to continue on my path. I saved the money. Due to the pandemic, I have not yet been able to leave for my planned research stay at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in California. I will then use the prize money to support my stay there and certainly take another important step in my scientific career.

Would you encourage others to apply for the award, and if so, why?

It was exciting and challenging to write the application and present my work in a way that is understandable and accessible to the wider scientific community. I can recommend this process of preparing one's own work for the Applied Photonics Award to everyone, as it is fun and also opens up new perspectives on one's own work. The joy of receiving the award and of course the impressive, beautiful award ceremony were an important experience in my life as a scientist, which I also wish for many other young scientists.

What induced you to your field of research and the topic of your thesis?

Chance or fate. I came to the field of research via an internship at the Laser Zentrum Hannover. It challenged me to program and build an FPGA-based delay generator in two months without any significant electronic or programming skills. Against many expectations, the development was more than successful and I was encouraged to tackle particularly demanding topics. When it was time for the bachelor thesis, I asked my department about topics that there were to work on. I chose the topic that was most challenging for me.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and inspired you about it?

My bachelor thesis is about scanners for laser micromachining, where the highest precision and high process speed are required. The development of more powerful ultrashort pulse lasers with high pulse repetition rates requires the use of fast scanners so that the process can be scaled. However, many commercial systems are not up to the task. Therefore, a combination of an acousto-optical deflector and a galvanometer scanner, in which the best of both worlds was successfully combined, was the most appropriate solution. Particularly exciting for me was the interdisciplinary work in the field of programming, electronics, control, regulation and at the end to merge all areas to a successful process.

How did you become aware of the Applied Photonics Award and what motivated you to participate?

I learned about the Applied Photonics Award and the Photonics Days from my department head at that time after he had already left the Laser Zentrum Hannover, by forwarding an e-mail to my supervisor. It was very short notice to complete all necessary documents and get the professor's signature by the deadline within only 4 days. I was particularly motivated by the opportunity to present my work to a wider audience and thus give the topic greater relevance.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you? Would you recommend participation in the award?

Before the award ceremony, I did not really know what has awaited me. In hindsight, it gave me recognition and network with new people and companies. For me, it is a gigantic motivation to remain faithful to the academic path. In any case, the successful participation in the award is a milestone in my life, which I will certainly remember frequently and gladly.

I strongly recommend the price to every student. After all, you cannot lose anything when you participate. Every person who has put heart and soul into their work should seize this opportunity and see where the journey takes them.

What are your plans for the future?

My work is currently taking me away from the earth: in the Moonrise project, 3D printing is brought to the moon by using a laser to melt the lunar regolith. For this, I develop space-suitable boards and software. Afterwards, I will continue my results of the bachelor thesis in a perennial Eurostars project.

I started to study physics in Oldenburg right after graduating from high school. There I already found by talking to a Ph.D. student an exciting topic in ultrafast laser physics for my bachelor thesis. This field and the work in the laboratory have inspired me so much that I have also aligned my master’s degree and the associated thesis accordingly.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and inspired you about it?

In my master thesis, I built an electron microscope with a spatial-temporal resolution unequaled anywhere in the world. For this, I used a laser-driven, novel electron source, which was developed in our working group at the University of Oldenburg. For the work on the microscope, I had to deal with nanomaterials, ultrafast lasers, and vacuum technology - this variety of different areas made the topic exciting and varied. At the same time, I was able to contribute to expanding the possibilities in microscopy. Currently, I use the microscope for my Ph.D. as well, to learn more about charge and energy transfer processes and to improve my understanding of light-harvesting complexes or organic solar cells.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you?

The award from a Fraunhofer Institute, especially in the field of optics, is a great honor that is also reflected in my curriculum vitae. Besides, the award underlines the relevance of my topic and strengthens me, even more, to continue my research in this field. I will use the prize money soon for a longer vacation. But where the journey should go is not clear yet.

Would you recommend the participation in the award?

I recommend the participation in any case, since not only the award itself is a large acknowledgment, but also the evening event, at which the award is presented, was a special experience. In addition, one has the opportunity to participate in the Photonics Days and visit the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering as well as the laboratories in Jena.

During my physics studies at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, a fellow student enthusiastically told me about his part-time job as a scientific assistant at the Fraunhofer IOF. After that, I also started as a scientific assistant in the working group "3D measuring systems". First, I was allowed to help with the construction of various 3D sensors and the creation of presentation materials, before I was involved in the characterization and development of new measuring systems. Due to the exciting topic, the practical relevance and the great working atmosphere, I decided to pursue my Ph.D. at the Fraunhofer IOF in cooperation with the Institute for Applied Physics.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and inspired you about it?

In my dissertation, I dealt with the optical high-speed 3D shape measurement. While fast optical 3D sensors are more and more part of our everyday life - just think of facial recognition in smartphones or obstacle detection systems in modern cars - some applications place even harder demands on both the measuring accuracy and the measuring speed. For example, to capture airbag deployments, crash tests, production parts on an assembly line or athletes in motion, hundreds to thousands of highly accurate 3D models must be generated per second. This is exactly what I was able to achieve during my Ph.D. by developing new methods and superstructures - and thus make a small contribution to the progress of this promising topic.

What does the Applied Photonics Award mean to you?

The Applied Photonics Award means a lot to me because it expresses the recognition and importance of my own work. At the same time, I see it as an incentive to keep up with this topic, which is obviously also of great interest to other scientists - especially since the principles and structures developed offer great potential for further applications and investigations. The fact that, in addition to the award, there is also a chunk of prize money is, of course, a nice side effect. With some of the money, I was able to fulfill a dream for my dad and myself: a joint trip to one of the completely sold-out shows "Springsteen on Broadway" in New York City.

Would you recommend the participation in the award?

I recommend everyone to take the chance and apply for the Applied Photonics Award. After all, you have nothing to lose, you can only win: participation in an evening event with tasty food and the opportunity to talk to other people from the photonics industry; the award itself with the associated recognition and the positive effects on your CV; and not to forget, of course, the handsome sum of prize money.

I began my physics studies at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena in 2005 and completed them without any detours in autumn 2010. My diploma thesis was about silicon solar cells. Because I found the topic so exciting, I decided after my studies not to take the direct way into the industry and instead started a Ph.D. at the Institute for Applied Physics (IAP) in Jena in the field of semiconductor sensors and microstructuring. The core topic of my Ph.D. was the production and application of a nanostructure called "Black Silicon". The IAP was and is a worldwide pioneer in this field. That was a strong motivation for me: to be at the forefront of a topic and to carry out innovative, application-relevant research. What could be more exciting?

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and inspired you about it?

My work was about a stochastic anti-reflective structure in silicon called black silicone. This structure can be produced in a comparatively simple, inexpensive process, which is very advantageous for an industrial application in high technology. Accordingly, there has always been a great deal of interest in my work, even outside the scientific community, and several interesting, application-oriented industrial projects. This has always been a good motivation for me because there is always the hope of great success: that one day Black Silicon will be used as a standard in sensors and will thus open new doors.

What does the Green Photonics Junior Award meant to you, especially for your further studies and your career?

I learned about the prize from the e-mail announcement and thought: Why not? I could not estimate my chances in advance. Of course, I was very happy about the prize; after all, it is very well remunerated. Soon I will be on the road with my family for a longer holiday. This can be co-financed with the prize money. And it is also nice to win such a prize away from this. In the end, this confirms that you have done a good job, which is appreciated by others. Besides, of course, it does well in the CV.

Would you recommend the participation in the award?

Why not? If you think you have written a good piece of work in the field of photonics, then there is no harm in trying. Since the prize is awarded with high publicity, it can certainly also earn you some reputation - and of course the prize money.

After my physics studies in Heidelberg, I worked for some time in the photovoltaic industry, where my interest in light-matter interactions was awakened. At the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) I gained my first experience in nanotechnology, whereupon I decided to do my Ph.D. in nanophotonics at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen. I have always been interested in natural sciences, but I am also a hobbyist and creative problem solver. My work unites these interests, which is why I still enjoy doing it today.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and inspired you about it?

In my doctoral thesis, I dealt with the measurement and numerical analysis of photonic modes in nanoscopic silicon building blocks. I did all the development steps myself - from the production of the photonic structures to the theoretical description of the modes. What I was most enthusiastic about was how modern technologies can be used to produce and measure such tiny structures, and with what precision the interaction between light and matter can be optimized even on the smallest scales. I have discovered a new, very small area of the world that has changed my view of many things, even everyday ones.

What does the Green Photonics Junior Award meant to you, especially for your further studies and your career?

I heard about the award ceremony via a circular mail. Since the application criteria fit very well to my subject area around photonics and photovoltaics, I applied without further ado. I was surprised to win the award, especially when I heard about the many other very good applications. For me, the award is a confirmation that I have pursued a relevant topic in an innovative and factually correct way during my Ph.D. I cannot say whether it had a direct impact on my career, but it certainly did not have a negative impact. From the prize money, I booked my girlfriend and myself a course for kitesurfing on Fuerteventura!

Would you recommend the participation in the award?

I would recommend the participation. The evaluation by the scientific committee allowed me to draw important conclusions about the relevance of my work.

After graduating from high school, I started my dual Bachelor's degree in "Solar Technology" at Anhalt University in cooperation with the local photovoltaic industry in the german federal state Sachsen-Anhalt. As a student at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP in Halle (Saale), I was able to gain experiences with the material glass and its properties for solar applications. The topic "glass" should accompany me since then, and it was clear to me that I would dedicate my future to this versatile material. When I was looking for my final thesis topic in my Master's degree "Renewable Energies" at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, a doctoral student almost simultaneously started his Ph.D. on volume structuring and needed experimental support. The volume structuring of solar glass is a rather new topic for which there is little preparatory work. Although the surface and volume structuring of various glass classes is scientifically well advanced, the process has never been optimized for use in photovoltaics.

What was the topic of your thesis? What fascinated and inspired you about it?

The aim of my master thesis was to create microstructures for light management in solar modules in the material volume of commercial solar glasses using ultrashort laser pulses. The generated microstructures have a slightly higher density compared to the base material, which allows the refraction of the light from inactive to active areas in the solar module. Since a large part of the module surface is not optically effective, active light management leads to improved illumination of the solar cell - thus increasing the producible photocurrent.

The topic covers both the functionalization by laser structuring of glass in general and its application for photovoltaics in particular. Due to the reciprocity theorem, however, the methodology is also conceivable for application in (LED-) lighting technology for energy-efficient lighting: If light can be coupled in well, it can also be decoupled well. This work has enabled me to develop thematic and personal profiling for my future career: glass, functionalization, photovoltaics, and energy technology are all topics that make up my profile.

What does the Green Photonics Junior Award meant to you, especially for your further studies and your career?

At the time of the announcement, I was with a cooperation partner, where I saw the posters with the call for applications. I found out about the goals, requirements, and contents of the award and quickly realized that my work covered all relevant aspects and was therefore ideally suited. So I decided to try but did not really think I had too many chances. Even more overwhelming was the positive answer. Already the second or third place would have been like gold - in the end, even taking the first place was unbelievable. I received a lot of positive feedback on the award from friends and acquaintances as well as colleagues.

The prize was very important to me. On the one hand, the award has perfectly expanded my application documents and go on doing so. Above all, however, it underlined the efficiency and potential of the topic. In addition, the award had a great advertising effect for all the institutions to which I was and still am assigned. Because of the award, I was asked to apply for further competitions and whether the technology could even be brought to market as a spin-off.

With the prize money, I was able to support my hobby and buy a new bicycle.

Would you recommend the participation in the award?

I can fully recommend the prize, whether in its "old" or "new" form. The works are evaluated by experts, awarded in a festive setting with high publicity and, last but not least, duly honored with certificates and trophies. The award is a beautiful and successful recognition for the many hours spent in dark laser laboratories.

I came to my current job as a test engineer in vegetable gardening and production technology through my early interest in plants and horticulture. After a few internships and training as a gardener, I went on to study horticultural sciences in Hanover, where I focused more and more on horticultural technology. Already during my master thesis in the field of plant protection, I encountered LEDs and their versatile possibilities. With my dissertation topic "Increasing energy efficiency of plant in vitro culturing techniques with high power LED exposure systems“, I took up this topic from a technical perspective. Exciting for me was the combination of plant production and the latest technology, which inspires me to this day.

What does the Green Photonics Junior Award meant to you, especially for your further studies and your career?

A colleague told me about the Green Photonics Award. Since I was not sure whether a horticultural science topic was placed correctly there at all, I was even more pleased when I heard about the prize. The prize left positive marks not only on my account but also on my CV.