Viola Vogler-Neuling | 3D second harmonic photonic crystals | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Viola Vogler-Neuling | 3D second harmonic photonic crystals | Best Researcher Award

Adolphe Merkle Institute | Switzerland

AUTHOR PROFILE

EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Dr. Viola Valentina Vogler-Neuling began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Physics from ETH Zurich, where she graduated with distinction. She continued her studies at the same institution, earning a Master of Physics with a thesis on the strain-dependent electro-optical effect in BaTiO3 thin films on silicon. During her master’s program, she gained international experience through an exchange semester at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, focusing on quantum field theory, renewable energies, and liquid crystals. Her doctoral studies, also at ETH Zurich, culminated in a Ph.D. with a thesis on nonlinear photonic crystals and metasurfaces in soft-nanoimprinted barium titanate nanomaterials.

PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Dr. Vogler-Neuling’s professional career is marked by significant positions and responsibilities. As a postdoctoral researcher in the Optical Nanomaterial Group at ETH Zurich, she worked on 3D nonlinear woodpile photonic crystals in barium titanate sol-gel and co-supervised Ph.D. and Master’s students. Following this, she joined the Soft Matter Physics Group at the Adolphe Merkle Institute, Université de Fribourg, where she led the Biophotonics subgroup, studying the interplay between structural order and disorder in natural photonic crystals and developing artificial 3D photonic crystals from chitin and chitosan. Currently, she serves as a Group Leader at the same institute, focusing on bio-inspired photonics.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS

Dr. Vogler-Neuling’s research contributions are centered around the development and characterization of 3D second harmonic photonic crystals. Her work involves creating photonic crystal cavities and electro-optic metasurfaces using innovative bottom-up nanofabrication methods. She has made significant strides in the field of nonlinear optics, particularly with barium titanate nanoparticles. Her expertise extends to cleanroom nanofabrication and a variety of characterization techniques. She has also been instrumental in advancing bio-inspired photonics, exploring the optical properties of structures derived from natural materials.

IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Dr. Vogler-Neuling’s research on 3D second harmonic photonic crystals has had a profound impact on the field of optical nanomaterials. Her work on developing large-scale nonlinear woodpile photonic crystals and electro-optic metasurfaces has been widely recognized, earning her several awards, including the Best Poster Award at the Complex Nanophotonics Science Camp. She has contributed significantly to the understanding of how structural order and disorder affect optical responses, influencing both theoretical and practical applications in photonics.

ACADEMIC CITES

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Vogler-Neuling has been actively engaged in teaching and mentoring. She has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students, guiding them in various projects related to photonic structures and materials science. Her contributions to education have been acknowledged through awards such as the Teaching Award from the Engaging Physics Tutoring Initiative at ETH Zurich. Her published works and conference presentations on 3D second harmonic photonic crystals have been cited by peers, demonstrating the academic impact of her research.

LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

Dr. Vogler-Neuling's legacy in the field of photonics is characterized by her innovative approach to bio-inspired and nonlinear optical materials. Her future contributions are poised to further explore the applications of 3D second harmonic photonic crystals in various domains, including biophotonics and sustainable technologies. Her ongoing research and leadership in the Bio-inspired Photonics subgroup at the Adolphe Merkle Institute are expected to yield significant advancements in the understanding and utilization of photonic crystals derived from biological building blocks.

3D SECOND HARMONIC PHOTONIC CRYSTALS

Dr. Vogler-Neuling’s work with 3D second harmonic photonic crystals involves intricate nanofabrication techniques and advanced optical characterization methods. Her research in this area is pivotal for developing new photonic devices with enhanced nonlinear optical properties. The innovative approaches she has developed for fabricating and studying these crystals are setting new standards in the field, paving the way for future breakthroughs in photonic and optoelectronic technologies.

NOTABLE PUBLICATION