Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik

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.

Dr. Lutz Schrottke has spent more than 25 years at PDI, where his work on Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) laid the groundwork for one of the institute's Core Research Areas (CReAs). In this interview, Dr. Schrottke looks back on his academic path, his contributions to the development of THz QCLs, and their applications in fields like astronomy and plasma diagnostics.