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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
On September 29, young researchers were honored with the Applied Photonics Award 2025 for their contributions to future topics in applied photonics. The award recognizes outstanding scientific achievements and is organized annually by Fraunhofer IOF.
Fundamentals for sustainable energy generation, high-performance laser systems, new analysis methods for molecular cell research, and photonic integrated circuits: The Applied Photonics Award 2025 once again honored outstanding young researchers for their work in the field of applied Photonics. The award, organized by the Fraunhofer institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, was presented on September 29 as part of Photonics Day Jena. Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann, director of Fraunhofer IOF, presented the awards to the winners together with Prof. Dr. Christine Silberhorn, professor at Paderborn University and keynote speaker at the event.
A jury of experts consisting of representatives from science and industry had previously selected the award-winning theses. In 2025, three theses were honored in the categories of bachelor's, master's, and dissertation. Another thesis was also honored with the jury's special prize for Photonics and quantum technologies.
The winners of the Applied Photonics Awards 2025 are:
Best Bachelor's Thesis (€1,000)
Lena Paula Rothbauer (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology): "Scalable Hole Transport Layer Deposition for Perovskite Photovoltaics Using Dip-Coating"
Global energy demand is growing steadily, while fossil resources are limited. Solar cells, which convert sunlight directly into electrical energy, offer a sustainable alternative. In her bachelor's thesis, Lena Paula Rothbauer investigates the scalability of a manufacturing process for perovskite solar cells, which offer a cost-effective alternative to the silicon technology that has dominated the photovoltaic sector to date.
Her work focuses on the analysis and implementation of various dip-coating methods for depositing nano thin hole conductor layers, which are essential for perovskite solar cells. The process investigated opens up prospects for scalable industrial application and already enables faster, more material-efficient, and thus more cost-effective production in the laboratory.
Best Master's Thesis (€2,000)
Pia Pritzke (Friedrich Schiller University Jena): "Developing a Protocol to Compare Single-Particle Tracking Performance Across Various Microscopes"
Dynamic processes in biological membranes form the basis of numerous cell functions. A deeper understanding of these processes is crucial for improving diagnostic procedures and developing new therapeutic approaches.
In her master's thesis, Pia Pritzke investigated the performance of various microscopy methods in single-particle tracking. To this end, she developed a calibration sample that can be used to systematically compare the tracking quality of the novel MINIFLUX microscopy with already established methods. The systematic evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of different microscopy methods makes it possible to select the most suitable method for different questions and samples.
In addition, the award winner implemented a user-friendly graphical interface that facilitates the analysis of MINFLUX data. The interface will be made freely accessible, offering the research community a cost-effective alternative to commercial software. At the same time, business and industry will also benefit: more precise analysis methods can accelerate the development of new drugs and reduce costs.
Best Dissertation (€3,000)
Sarah Rebecca Hutter (University of Konstanz): "Ultrabroadband femtosecond technology with maximum stability"
Extremely precise laser systems with high bandwidth are among the key technologies for numerous future applications. They enable ultra-precise time measurements, sensitive spectroscopic analyses, biomedical imaging, and ultra-fast data communication. Highly stable laser sources are also indispensable for the development of quantum technologies.
In her dissertation, Sarah Rebecca Hutter developed a laser system that generates ultrashort light pulses with unprecedented stability. This was based on a systematic analysis of the key noise mechanisms, which resulted in universal guidelines for the design of high-precision laser systems.
The newly developed system combines a customized laser source with innovative amplifiers, achieving unprecedented performance that opens up new application scenarios in medicine, materials research, and quantum technologies.
Special Jury Prize for Photonics and Quantum Technologies (€1,000)
Trevor Vrckovnik (Friedrich Schiller University Jena): "Non-Linear Waveguide Designs Leveraging Unique Material Optical Susceptibility Tensors"
Photonic technologies are considered key to innovations such as ultra-fast data communication and quantum encryption. In order for them to become suitable for mass production, their components, known as photonic integrated circuits (PICs), must be simpler, more efficient, and scalable to manufacture.
In his master's thesis, Trevor Vrckovnik developed a simulation method that systematically searches large parameter spaces and identifies particularly high-performance waveguide designs. He was able to show that certain materials enable the generation of polarization-entangled photons even in very simple waveguides.
This opens up new perspectives for cost-effective and scalable photonics components – from laser sources with novel wavelengths to faster telecommunications systems. The integration of quantum photonics on chips is thus within reach and paves the way for applications such as quantum encryption in everyday devices in the long term.
About the 2025 Applied Photonics Award
The award for young scientists is organized by Fraunhofer IOF and recognizes outstanding theses in the field of applied photonics. The institute conducts applied research in the field of optics and photonics. As key technologies, these disciplines contribute to solving upcoming challenges for society, the economy, and industry.
The Applied Photonics Award was presented in 2025 with the kind support of the Association of German Engineers (VDI), the Thuringia State Development Corporation (LEG), and the companies JENOPTIK and TRUMPF.
About Fraunhofer IOF
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena conducts application-oriented research in the field of photonics and develops innovative optical systems for controlling light - from its generation and manipulation to its application. The institute's range of services covers the entire photonic process chain from opto-mechanical and opto-electronic system design to the production of customer-specific solutions and prototypes. At Fraunhofer IOF, about 500 employees work on the annual research volume of 40 million euros.
For more information about Fraunhofer IOF, please visit: http://www.iof.fraunhofer.de
Sina Seidenstücker
Fraunhofer IOF
Coordinator Applied Photonics Award
Phone: +49 (0) 3641 807- 800
Mail: sina.seidenstuecker@iof.fraunhofer.de
The award winners with the two presenters, Prof. Andreas Tünnermann (left) and Prof. Christine Silbe ...
Copyright: Fraunhofer IOF
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The award winners with the two presenters, Prof. Andreas Tünnermann (left) and Prof. Christine Silbe ...
Copyright: Fraunhofer IOF
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