Latest News

PDI PhD student Mikel Gómez Ruiz successfully defended his thesis on March 27 at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His dissertation, titled "Carrier recombination in group-III-V nanowires – Investigation of defects and transport via cathodoluminescence spectroscopy," was supervised by PDI Senior Scientist Dr. Jonas Lähnemann.

Madeleine Msall, Josiah Little Professor of Natural Science at Bowdoin College and regular guest scientist at PDI, will give her inaugural lecture at Bowdoin on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. In this livestreamed public talk, Prof. Msall will explore the story of phonons—quantum vibrations that carry heat and sound through solids—and their role in the performance of modern semiconductors, including those operating at cryogenic temperatures.

Over the past three months, theatre artist Mary Kelly built trust with the PDI community, exploring materials science through an artist’s lens. Her residency may have formally ended, but our relationship continues—her journey of reflection and creation is just beginning, and we look forward to seeing how our collaboration evolves. Read more about the seminar that wrapped up this phase and what comes next.

For the past three months, theatre artist Mary Kelly has been PDI’s Artist-in-Residence (AiR), immersing herself in the world of materials science and exploring how scientific and artistic practices can inform one another. Now, as her residency comes to a close, she’s ready to share what she’s learned—through a special online presentation featuring readings from her work.

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.