Panagiota Elli Stamatopoulou receives a grant from the Villum Foundation

Only one out of seven professors in technical and natural sciences are a woman.

The further one progresses in the typical academic career path; the fewer women there are. In short, society needs to include female research talents. Therefore, the Villum Foundation has awarded 16.7 million DKK to seven ambitious and outstanding female researchers in technical and natural sciences.

One of this year's recipients is Panagiota Elli Stamatopoulou, who has made her mark with her research at POLIMA (Centre for Polariton-driven Light-Matter Interactions), but is now affiliated with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The grants are given at the point in their careers after the PhD, where there is a significant dropout of women in academic career positions at universities.

With the Villum Foundation's support, Elli Stamatopoulou will embark on pioneering Nanophotonics Research. She plans to explore the optical properties of unconventional photonic platforms, such as chiral, time-varying, and topological media, uniquely combining fundamental science with practical applications in nanophotonics. This innovative approach is both a challenge and an exciting opportunity for groundbreaking research.

A critical grant for career advancement
The Villum grant will enable Elli to expand her research network and participate in international conferences.

-          On a personal level, this grant recognizes all the hard work I have poured into my research. It validates my contribution to nanophotonics and motivates me to keep pushing forward. Professionally, it will allow me to access cutting-edge resources and elevate my scientific activity beyond what base funding can support, Elli states.

Support from POLIMA
Professor N. Asger Mortensen, head of POLIMA, emphasizes the importance of the Villum Foundation's support:

- POLIMA is dedicated to fostering young researchers through comprehensive training, career mentoring, and internationalization initiatives. Our deliberate approach encourages PhD graduates always to continue their further postdoctoral training in new academic environments, strengthening their international experience and broadening their professional networks, he says.

Recognition from the Mads Clausen Institute
Professor Horst-Günter Rubahn, head of the Mads Clausen Institute, highlights the significance of this achievement:

-          Combining an outstanding female researcher with an excellent scientific peer group at POLIMA results in national and international recognition.

The grant arrives when retaining women in academia remains a critical challenge. The Villum Foundation is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive research environment where the best talents can thrive regardless of gender.

Elli Stamatopoulou's research holds great promise for pushing the boundaries of nanophotonics and contributing to significant technological advancements. Her work could potentially revolutionize the field, developing innovative sensing technologies and other practical applications.