Max Planck School of Photonics

04/09/2026

MPSP Alumni at a Glance: Johannes Blöchl

🚀 From ultrafast lasers to high-tech innovation: Johannes explored the world of ultrafast photonics at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching under the supervision of Prof. Matthias F. Kling.

🔬 His MPSP journey from 2021–2025 took him from “Laser field sampling with attosecond and nanometer precision” to his PhD research on Ultrafast Pulse Metrology — working at the cutting edge of one of photonics’ fastest frontiers.

But for Johannes, some of the most valuable experiences happened beyond the lab: the exchange, discussions, and connections at the MPSP Spring and Autumn Schools — and all the events in between. 🤝

Today, he is putting his scientific expertise into practice as a Technical Commercial Engineer at UltraFast Innovations, combining marketing & sales, quality assurance, and production in a versatile role within the high-tech industry.

💡 His advice to the next generation of MPSP students?
“Connect with people on every occasion — especially those from different fields and from industry — and enjoy the fun moments during your PhD.”

Because great science is not only about pushing the limits of technology — it’s also about the people you meet along the way. ✨

Want to read more from MPSP Alumni? Visit our website at https://photonics.maxplanckschools.org/570574/testimonials_career-perspectives

01/09/2026

🔬 It’s September outside, which means that the application period for the 2027 fall intake has begun, and it runs through December 1!
Start your career in Photonics, whether in our master's or PhD program. Experience excellent research at our world-famous universities and non-university research institutions throughout Germany. Expand your knowledge through professional training during our Spring and Autumn Schools, and network with other PhD Candidates and MPSP Fellows.

Find more information on our website: https://photonics.maxplanckschools.org/en/program

24/08/2026

What makes the Max Planck School of Photonics so unique?

Discover how the Max Planck School of Photonics connects outstanding young researchers with world-leading scientists, cutting-edge research, and a unique nationwide network across Germany. From quantum technologies and nanophotonics to ultrafast physics and biophotonics, our students are shaping the future with light. ✨

🎥 Watch the video and learn what makes the MPSP experience so unique.

The full video is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enBjPYkDOcw&t=12s

17/08/2026

✨ NEW PUBLICATION | MPSP RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Can we make light behave like a crystal — in time? ⏱️💡

A new study in Science Advances explores photonic time crystals — artificial materials whose properties are rapidly modulated in time to control how light propagates.

The team, including MPSP PhD Candidate Puneet Garg, shows that quasi-bound states in the continuum (qBICs) can dramatically enhance the interaction between light and time-varying matter. This makes it possible to achieve wide momentum bandgaps with remarkably small material modulations — bringing photonic time crystals closer to practical realization at optical frequencies. 🔬✨

A fascinating step toward a new generation of time-varying photonic technologies!

📖 Photonic time crystals assisted by quasi-bound states in the continuum
Science Advances
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aed4055



Note: The photo is created with the help of AI

10/08/2026

MPSP Alumni at a Glance: Kim Alina Lammers

🔬 From pioneering research on polarization manipulation in femtosecond laser-written waveguides in fused silica to shaping the future of optics in industry, Kim’s journey highlights the power of curiosity, collaboration, and community.

During her time at MPSP in Jena until 2021, supervised by Prof. Stefan Nolte, she especially valued the interdisciplinary exchange within the MPSP network: “The annual Autumn School gave us a deep dive into each other’s research and broadened my own optics expertise.”

👓️ Today, Kim is an Optical Designer at Jenoptik Optical Systems GmbH, bringing her photonics expertise from academia into industry.

Her advice for current and future MPSP students? Explore beyond your own field, connect with as many people as possible, and make the most of every opportunity—because the conversations you have today might shape the career you build tomorrow.

03/08/2026

MPSP Alumni at a Glance: Thea Moosmayer

✨ From cutting-edge research to intellectual property law: MPSP alumna Thea Moosmayer shows how diverse a career in photonics can be.

As a PhD candidate in the lab of Stefan Hell in Göttingen, Thea worked on MINFLUX nanoscopy deep in living brain tissue, pushing the boundaries of optical imaging. Today, she is training as a German and European patent attorney, helping to protect tomorrow’s innovations.

Looking back, one of her highlights at the Max Planck School of Photonics was connecting with other PhD Candidates and researchers during the Spring and Autumn Schools: “I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to interact with others who share my passion for optics and photonics.”

Her advice for current and future MPSP students? 💡
“It's a great opportunity to learn something new and broaden your horizons.”

Whether your future lies in academia, industry, or beyond, MPSP can open doors you may not even know exist yet.

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27/07/2026

🔬✨ The Research field of Nanophotonics: Shaping Light at the Nanoscale

What happens when we control light on dimensions thousands of times smaller than a human hair?

Nanophotonics explores how light interacts with structures at the nanometer scale, unlocking entirely new ways to manipulate, guide, and enhance optical signals. From ultra-sensitive biosensors capable of detecting disease biomarkers at an early stage to quantum technologies based on single-photon sources and next-generation optical chips, nanophotonics is driving innovation at the frontier of science and technology.

By engineering matter at the nanoscale, the Fellows and PhD candidates at the Max Planck School of Photonics are creating devices that are smaller, faster, and more efficient than ever before—opening new possibilities for healthcare, communication, computing, and sustainable technologies.



Note: The photos are generated with the help of AI

24/07/2026

Our MPSP PhD Candidate Thomas Arne Hensel was awarded the German Thesis Award! Congratulations! 🥳

Thomas Arne Hensel wurde für seine Doktorarbeit in der Abteilung NanoBiophotonik von Nobelpreisträger Stefan Hell an unserem Institut und der Universität Heidelberg mit dem Deutschen Studienpreis der Körber-Stiftung ausgezeichnet – herzlichen Glückwunsch! 👏🎉

In seiner Dissertation entwickelte er innovative lichtmikroskopische Ansätze, um molekulare Dynamik sichtbar zu machen. Durch die Erzeugung spezieller Beleuchtungsmuster gelang es ihm, proteinähnliche Strukturen nicht nur abzubilden, sondern auch deren Bewegung im Zeitverlauf zu verfolgen.

Diese Fortschritte liefern neue Erkenntnisse darüber, wie sich Moleküle im Nanobereich verhalten und miteinander wechselwirken. In Zukunft könnten solche Ansätze Forschern helfen, besser zu verstehen, wie Medikamente auf Proteine wirken und wie es bei Krankheiten wie Krebs zu Therapieresistenzen kommen kann.

21/07/2026

An empty hall today. A hub for scientific discovery and young scientific talent tomorrow.

The transformation has begun!

What is now a vast construction site near the Bildungscampus in Heilbronn will become a new home for the Max Planck Schools: a vibrant research environment with state-of-the-art laboratories, a welcoming foyer designed to bring people together, and shared spaces that encourage collaboration. The site will also become a second location to the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research. A place where research, graduate education, and interdisciplinary exchange thrive side by side.

Before construction work will reach full speed, we took the opportunity to capture this moment in time. Standing together in the middle of this enormous space, it was exciting to imagine what will soon emerge here - and to think about the discoveries, ideas, and collaborations it will make possible.

We can’t wait to see this vision take shape and to open a new chapter for us Schools and the MPI for Medical Research in Heilbronn. Soon, this space will be alive with science and curious minds!



Max Planck School of Cognition
Max Planck School Matter to Life
Wissensstadt Heilbronn
Dieter Schwarz Stiftung

©Matt Stark / Max Planck Schools

13/07/2026

Explaining Our Research Fields - Part 8

From static images to real-time insights: The Advanced Imaging research field at the Max Planck School of Photonics is advancing photonic technologies that enable clinicians to visualize biological processes as they happen. Innovations such as 4D imaging and real-time MRI provide immediate feedback during medical procedures, supporting greater precision, faster decision-making, and improved patient care. 🔬✨

Learn more about our research topics at https://photonics.maxplanckschools.org/en/research-topics



Note: Photos are created with the help of AI