Latest News

Markus R. Wagner, Head of Department Semiconductor Spectroscopy at PDI, has been invited as an opening speaker at RaMS2025 – the 1st Workshop on Raman Spectroscopies for Materials Science. RaMS2025 is a premier event dedicated to the application of Raman spectroscopies in materials science research. Hosted by Politecnico di Milano on April 15, 2025, the workshop will bring together leading experts, researchers, and students to explore the latest advancements, exchange knowledge, and foster collaborations in the field. Registration is now open.

As the year draws to a close, we would like to recognize the ongoing support and guidance of PDI's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Established with the founding of PDI in 1993, The SAB has included Nobel Laureates and pioneers who have had profound impact in their respective fields.

The DGKK+DEMBE Workshop 2024, jointly organized by PDI and HHI, successfully took place in Berlin from December 11-13, 2024. This annual event evolved from the Workshop of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kristallwachstum und Kristallzüchtung (DGKK) on Epitaxy of III-V Semiconductors and the German MBE Workshop (DEMBE). This year saw more than 200 attendees coming together to exchange ideas and foster collaboration, driving progress in epitaxy and related fields.

We are delighted to announce that PDI PhD student Miriam Oliva successfully defended her PhD thesis on December 11, 2024, at Technische Universität Berlin, earning the distinction of magna cum laude.

An invited paper authored by PDI scientists in collaboration with DLR, INP, and Lytid SAS, has recently been selected as a Featured Paper in the Special Issue of IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology “Selected Emerging Trends in Terahertz Science and Technology”. The paper details advancements in designing and fabricating terahertz quantum-cascade lasers and explores their applications in high-resolution spectroscopy, demonstrating their potential for atmospheric studies and industrial diagnostics.

Jim Speck, a materials science professor at UC Santa Barbara, has received the 2024 Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF), a prestigious award supporting innovative and fundamental research. From 2013 to 2018, Speck served on PDI's Scientific Advisory Board, where his expertise and insights played a key role in shaping the institute's research directions and strategic priorities.

A paper co-authored by PDI scientists Xiang Lu, Lutz Schrottke, and Klaus Biermann has won second prize in the Best Paper Award from the Association of European Space Research Establishments. The research team developed an Oxygen Spectrometer for Atmospheric Science on a Balloon to study the 4.7-THz emission of neutral atomic oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.

PDI Postdoc Dr. Kagiso Loeto has been awarded a prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which recognizes and supports outstanding researchers with exceptional qualifications. Dr. Loeto will lead a new research initiative to investigate fundamental phenomena limiting the internal quantum efficiency of deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

At Berlin Science Week 2024, PDI brings science to the public in an innovative and engaging way through the Science Punk concept, a unique series that shows what can happen when scientists challenge conventions. From Nov 8th to 10th, you can experience Science Punk firsthand at PDI’s Tiny Gallery at Holzmarkt, where you can watch the films, interact with PDI's scientists, and explore ideas beyond your comfort zone.

Chris Van de Walle, professor of materials at UC Santa Barbara and former member of the PDI Scientific Advisory Board, has been awarded the American Physical Society’s 2025 Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics. This prestigious award, APS's highest honor in the field, recognizes his contributions to first-principles methods for understanding the structural, electronic, and optoelectronic properties of materials, particularly point defects and interfaces.