Asst. Prof. Matjaž Humar received the Blinc Award for physicists at the beginning of their career

On October 26, 2022, the “Jožef Stefan” Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, awarded the fourth Blinc Award for research and professional work in the field of physics. Asst. Prof. Matjaž Humar, associate of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5, was awarded the Blinc Award for physicists at the beginning of their career. The prestigious award is a recognition of his work in the introduction of pioneering methods of sensorics and biomarkers based on microlasers and laser microresonators in soft and biocompatible materials.

His acquired knowledge and untiring perseverance cleared the way for the establishment of the first laboratory in Slovenia for bio-integrated photonics at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics F5 at the “Jožef Stefan” Institute 7 years ago.

The “whispering gallery mode” method of micro-resonator sensor, which he developed with co-authors, enables localization at the level of individual cells with sensors of various parameters such as temperature, pH and refractive index. The method represents a versatile and perspective tool for deep tissue imaging.

Asst. Prof. Matjaž Humar is the first author of eight articles in high-ranking international journals such as Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, Physical Review Letters and Advanced Materials.