idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
More than 70 early-career researchers from 17 countries came together at the Women in Photonics workshop hosted by the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT) in Jena. Participants presented their work on optical health technologies and discussed career paths in science and industry. Now in its fifth edition, the series is showing measurable impact: several former participants are now leading junior research groups at the institute.
From June 1–5, 2025, Leibniz IPHT welcomed young scientists from around the globe to the international career workshop Women in Photonics. The goal: to present research, strengthen international networks, and exchange ideas on the future of photonic technologies in healthcare.
The workshop focused on light-based methods for diagnosing and treating diseases such as cancer, infections, and Alzheimer’s – all central topics in Leibniz IPHT’s research portfolio. One of the participants, Aditi Sahu from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, uses optical imaging to analyze the tumor microenvironment. “Researching with light allows me to see things inside the human body that were never visible before,” she said. What impressed her most was the openness of the exchange – not only about research results, but also about careers and the challenge of balancing science and personal life.
Zsuzsanna Heiner, a professor at Humboldt University of Berlin, emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the event: “Photonics is a field where people from very different backgrounds come together. That makes it all the more important to find a shared language. This workshop enables exactly that.”
The program featured inspiring contributions from leading experts in academia and industry – including Mihaela Žigman from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, who is collaborating with Nobel laureate Ferenc Krausz on new approaches to early cancer detection, and Julie Sheridan Eng, CTO of the U.S.-based photonics company Coherent.
For Leibniz IPHT, the workshop is also a strategic instrument for talent development – and it’s producing visible results. Former participants such as Dr. Maria Chernysheva (Aston University, UK) and Dr. Corinna Kufner (Harvard University, USA) now lead their own junior research groups at the institute.
“Excellent science depends on diversity and new perspectives,” said Prof. Jürgen Popp, Scientific Director of Leibniz IPHT. “That’s why we’re committed to bringing young talents from around the world to Jena.”
Regional employers such as Jenoptik, Zeiss, ams Osram, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) also took part in the event, presenting career opportunities in Jena’s thriving photonics ecosystem.
https://www.biophotonics4future.com/wip-2025/
International career workshop Women in Photonics at Leibniz-IPHT in Jena: More than 70 early-career ...
Stela Todorova
Leibniz-IPHT
International career workshop Women in Photonics at Leibniz-IPHT in Jena: More than 70 early-career ...
Stela Todorova
Leibniz-IPHT
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