Dr. Simon Spelthann

As a physicist and engineer by training I combine colloidal nanomaterials with photonics to answer questions of fundamental science and to develop cutting edge solutions to pressing techno-societal problems. I am convinced that both can be done best by tackling open questions and problems interdisciplinarily and as a team. If you are interested in a collaboration - both, scientifically or technologically - do not hesitate to reach out!

Career

Researcher @ Simply Complex Lab - Ruhr-University Bochum (2025–Present)

  • Bring dynamic self-assembly to the nanoscale #nano-DSA
  • Exploit cooperative quantum effects in dynamic self-assembly #Q-DSA

Guest Researcher @ Fiber Optics and Innovation Lab - Leibniz University Hannover (2025–Present)

  • Combine colloidal nanomaterials with optical fibers for novel reactors, sensors, and lasers
  • Specialty fibers for biomedical applications

Postdoc @ Laser Component and Fibres group - Leibniz University Hannover (07/2023-12/2024)

  • EIC Pathfinder project “reaCtor” together with AMOLF (NL), University of Amsterdam (NL), University of LaLaguna, Tenerife (ES), Lukasiewicz Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics (PL)
  • Combine colloidal nanomaterials with optical fibers for novel reactors, sensors, and lasers
  • Specialty fibers for biomedical applications

Member: Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD (since 02/2023)

Member: Cluster of Excellence QuantumFrontiers (since 12/2022)

Research Associate @ Laser Components and Fibres group - Leibniz University Hannover (11/2021-06/2023)

  • Lanthanide-doped nanocrystals
  • Specialty optical fibers

Research Associate @ Ultrafast Photonics Group - Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (08/2020-10/2021)

  • Development of ultra short pulse fiber amplifiers based on Ytterbium and Thulium.
  • Development of fiber stretcher and grism compressor setups for chirped pulse amplification

Research Associate @ Institute of Quantum Optics - Leibniz University Hannover (05/2017-07/2020)

  • Joint project LaPOF: Design, manufacturing and characterization of laser active polymer fibers

Education

PhD in Physics (2017–2023)

  • Leibniz University Hannover, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
  • Thesis title: Excitation Dynamics in LiYF$_4$:Pr$^{3+}$ Nanocrystals

Master of Science in Photonics (2014-2017)

  • University of Applied Sciences Münster
  • Thesis conducted in the Optical Technologies group led by Prof. Dr. Carsten Fallnich at the University of Münster
  • Thesis title: Investigations on the spectral emission bandwidth of a fiber-based optical parametric oscillator

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering (2012-2015)

  • University of Applied Sciences Münster
  • Thesis conducted at the physics lab of the faculty for physics engineering
  • Thesis title: Laser Heating of Carbon Modifications

Bachelor of Science in Laser Technology (2011-2014)

  • University of Applied Sciences Münster
  • Thesis conducted at the L-Lab at Hella Hueck & Co. KG
  • Thesis title: Laser Heating of Carbon Modifications

Funding and Prizes

Leibniz Young Investigtor Grant ENDOIMPRINT (01/2024-12/2025)

  • Funding from Leibniz University Hannover for talented postdocs
  • Development of a multicore fiber with capillary for additive manufacturing using minimally invasive fiber endoscopes
  • Two-year project with 100 k€ funding incl. one PhD student and one student assistant

EIC Pathfinder reaCtor (2023-2027)

  • Co-initiator and -author of the proposal (although not eligible as co-PI)
  • Cooperation with University LaLaguna (Teneriffe, ES), University of Amsterdam (NL), AMOLF (Amsterdam, NL), Lucasiewicz Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics (Warsaw, PL)
  • https://www.fibre-reactor.eu/
  • Total funding: 3 M€

Miscellaneous Flexible Funds (2022-2023)

  • Main author of four successful flexible funds proposals (although not eligible as PI) within the Clusters of Excellence PhoenixD and QuantumFrontiers
  • Combining nanomaterials with optical fiber technology for novel devices
  • Total funding: ca. 193kEUR incl. Ph.D. positions.

Conference Organisation

Special Symposium at Spring Meeting of the German Physical Society (2024)

  • Organized a special symposium on ”Lasers and Photonic Technologies for Environmental Challenges together with Dr. Michael Steinke (LUH) and Dr. Stefanie Falk (LMU München)
  • 16 contributions organised in four sessions

PhoenixD Colloquium (2024)

  • Inviting Scientist for the colloqium on 04/04/2024
  • Speakers: Dr. Wiebke Albrecht, AMOLF and Jun.-Prof. Michael Zopf, LUH

Skills & Tools

Colloidal Nanoparticle Spectroscpy

Lanthanide-activated nanocrystals, Quantum-defined semiconductor structures (quantum dots, nanoplatelets, …), Plasmonic nanoparticles, Carbon nanotubes, …

Dynamic Self-Assembly

Passive polystyrene microbeads, colloidal nanoparticles, quantum-defined nanoparticles

Optical Fibers

Liquid core fibers, Multi core fibers, Hollow core photonic crystal fibers

Nanothermometry

Endoscopic fiber sensors, Microscopy, Machine learning: Symbolic regression

Numerical Simulations

Monte Carlo, Differential rate equations, Bayesian optimization, FTDT

Ultrafast Fiber Lasers

Yb-doped at 1µm, Tm-doped at 1.7µm, Pulse strechers and compressors, fiber-based optical parametric oscillator

Softskills

Supervision

16 in total: 1 Bachelorstudent, 1 Bachelorthesis, 4 Masterstudent Internships, 5 Masterprojects, 2 Mastertheses, 3 PhD students

Languages

German (native), English (very good), French (good)

Volunteer

Leadership, Staff training, and coaching at a summer camp (c.f. leadership)