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Were you (or was somebody you know) in our group previously?
Have a look at our Alumni page!
Want to join ESMP?
Check out our job opportunities!
Current Group Members
Churchill Agoni
Ph.D. Candidate
In the SHADOW project, Churchill investigates ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals under confinement.
PROJECT
SHADOW
FROM
Nigeria
EDUCATION
M.Sc. Photonics, University of Eastern Finland
EDUCATION
University of Ibadan; National Open University of Nigeria; Federal Government Girls' College Abuloma; Ambrose Alli University
JOINED IN
2025
Deniz Işınsu Avşar
Ph.D. Candidate
Deniz works on the TRANSCEND project for using cholesteric shell reflectors (CSRs) as means to encode data for autonomous navigation and secure authentication.
PROJECT
TRANSCEND
FROM
Ankara, Türkiye
EDUCATION
M.Sc. Chemical Engineering, Middle East Technical University
PREVIOUSLY AT
Hacettepe University
JOINED IN
2021
+352 46 66 44 4679
Chih-Chieh Chien
Postdoctoral Researcher
As part of the BIOFLICS project, Chih-Chieh works with novel sample collection methods and functionalized liquid crystal droplets as reporters of biological and chemical sensing events.
PROJECT
BIOFLICS
FROM
Taiwan
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University
JOINED IN
2025
Tadej Emeršič
Postdoctoral Researcher
Tadej works on the INVISIMARK project on using cholesteric liquid crystal shell reflectors for secure authentication in defense applications.
PROJECT
INVISIMARK
FROM
Ptuj, Slovenia
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Physics, University of Maribor
PREVIOUSLY AT
University of Chicago; University of Ljubljana; Jožef Stefan Institute
JOINED IN
2025
Lawrence Honaker
Postdoctoral Researcher
Larry works on a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action-funded project, TECHSTILE, to create smart textiles with liquid crystal and liquid armor functionalities.
PROJECT
TECHSTILE
FROM
Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Physics, University of Luxembourg
PREVIOUSLY AT
Wageningen University; Kent State University; BASF; Ministry of National Education, France
Ph.D. Materials Science Engineering, University of Santiago
PREVIOUSLY AT
ESCPI, Paris
JOINED IN
2024
+352 46 66 44 5619
Jan Lagerwall
Principal Investigator
Jan is the leader of the ESMP group and a Professor of Polymer Physics at the University of Luxembourg. Check out his personal website for more information!
PROJECT
Lots
FROM
Gothenburg, Sweden
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Materials Science, Chalmers University (Sweden)
PREVIOUSLY AT
Seoul National University; Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg; Universität Stuttgart; University of Colorado Boulder
JOINED IN
2007
+352 46 66 44 6219
Xu Ma
Ph.D. Candidate
Xu works on the ECLIPSE project to improve the production of cholesteric spherical reflectors through electrospray and phase separation processes.
PROJECT
ECLIPSE
FROM
Hebei, P.R. China
EDUCATION
M.Sc. Physics, University of Luxembourg
JOINED IN
2020
+352 46 66 44 4677
Yosuke Pestana Nakamura
Ph.D. Candidate
After doing both his Bachelor's and Master's theses in our group, Yosuke is doing his Ph.D. in the COSAMOS project on the use of mechanochromic cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers.
PROJECT
COSAMOS
FROM
Porto, Portugal
EDUCATION
M.Sc. Physics, University of Luxembourg
JOINED IN
2022
+352 46 66 44 5626
Nikolay Popov
Ph.D. Candidate
Nikolay works on the BIOSHELLS project, using microfluidically produced liquid crystal shells as reporters of biomolecular sensing.
PROJECT
BIOSHELLS
FROM
Tvardița, Moldova
EDUCATION
M.Sc. Chemistry, Ivanovo State University (Russia)
JOINED IN
2021
+352 46 66 44 6056
Zornitza Tosheva
Research & Development Specialist
In addition to managing our labs, Zory is primarily involved in research on cellulose nanocrystal self-assembly.
PROJECT
ALCEMIST
FROM
Sofia, Bulgaria
JOINED IN
2014
+352 46 66 44 6332
Vijaykumar Varma
Postdoctoral Researcher
Vijay works on pioneering sustainable liquid crystal elastomers to achieve versatile responses to stimuli such as heat, light, humidity, and strain.
PROJECT
ALCEMIST
FROM
Maharashtra, India
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Materials Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
PREVIOUSLY AT
Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology; University of Pune
JOINED IN
2025
+352 46 66 44 6332
Yansong Zhang
Postdoctoral Researcher
Yansong works on the BIOFLICS project to make innovative pathogen sampling filters and reporters of biomolecular binding events, enabling globally accessible, safe, low-cost, and reliable pathogen testing.
PROJECT
BIOFLICS
FROM
Beijing, P.R. China
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan)
JOINED IN
2022
+352 46 66 44 4665
Georgia Kaprou
Research Facilitator
Georgia works as part of the Research Facilitation team to help us secure grants and manage our projects.
PROJECT
Helping us secure funding and manage our projects
FROM
Greece
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Bionanotechnology, University of Crete
JOINED IN
2023
+352 46 66 44 5568
Nicole Trouet
Administrative Assistant
Nicole is a shared group secretary who helps us with myriad administrative tasks.
