
Pavlos Savvidis has received the B.Sc. in Physics of the University of Athens. He obtained his doctoral degree in Experimental Condensed Matter and Laser Physics from the University of Southampton in 2001 creating the first polariton amplifier. From 2002 to 2004 he was DARPA funded post-doctoral associate at the Department of Physics at Santa Barbara, USA, working on the terahertz dynamics in semiconductor nanostructures and Bloch Oscillators. In 2004 he was appointed Assistant Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Technology of the University of Crete. He is affiliated researcher of the Microelectronics Research Group at FO.R.T.H.-Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (I.E.S.L.) since 2004. He was awarded 1 year Leverhulme Fellowship in 2014 to work as visiting Professor at Cavendish Labs, University of Cambridge. His work on polaritonic devices, appeared in high impact journals such as Nature, Science, Nature Physics, Nature Comm and PRLs. The results of many of these works were featured in News & Views and Perspectives sections of Nature and Science journals respectively.
Education
- 2001, Ph.D. in Physics, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- 1998, B.Sc. in Physics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Career
- 08/2004 - today, Assist. Prof. Dept of Material Science & Technology, University of Crete, Greece
- 03/2012 - 05/2012, Marie Currie Senior Researcher Physics Department, University of Southampton, UK
- 04/2011 - 06/2011, Marie Currie Senior Researcher Physics Department, University of Southampton, UK
- 06/2008 - 10/2008, Visiting Professor Cavendish Labs, Cambridge University, UK
- 03/2004 - 06/2004, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- 01/2002 - 11/2003, Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
Interests
- Novel polariton based optoelectronic devices
- Nonliear properties of hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductor microcavities
- Polariton quantum fluids and circuits
- Polariton condensate lattices for quantum simulation

T. Peter Rakitzis is a Professor of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics at the Dept. of Physics of the Univ. of Crete, and is the leader of the Polarization Spectroscopy group at IESL-FORTH. The main research goals of this group are the development of cavity-based polarimeters for the ultrasensitive measurement of chirality, and the production high-density and high production rates of spin-polarized hydrogen isotopes for applications in magnetometry, the production of polarized beams, and the study of polarized nuclear fusion.
Education
- 1992, B.A. Physics, Cornell University, USA
- 1992, B.A. Chemistry, Cornell University, USA
- 1997, Ph.D. Chemistry (major) and Physics (minor), Stanford University, USA
Career
- 2001, Lecturer, Department of Physics, University of Crete
- 2006, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, University of Crete
- 2011, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Crete
- 2016, Professor, Department of Physics, University of Crete
Interests
- Production of spin-polarized atoms and molecules
- Angular momentum polarization
- Photodissociation dynamics
- Cavity-based polarimetry
- Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy
- Atomic and Molecular Parity Nonconservation

Education
- 9/1990 - 12/1997: Graduate studies, Department of Physics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- 2/1993 - 12/1997: PhD, Polymer Physics, Advisor: Prof. G. Fytas, Department of Physics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- 6/1994 Master’s Degree in Physics, Department of Physics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- 1/1990-8/1990: Graduate student with the theoretical physics group of the Department of Physics, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- 9/1984 - 9/1989: Diploma in Physics, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Career
- 7/2017 - : Full Professor, Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete
- 12/2011 - 7/2017: Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete
- 5/2006 - 12/2011: Assistant Professor (tenure, 3/2010), Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete
- 7/2004 - 5/2006: Associated Researcher (Grade C) Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- 9/2002 - 8/2005: Adjunct Associate Professor (Visiting Professorship), Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete
- 10/2002 - 9/2003: Individual Marie Curie Research Fellow (return type), Host Institute: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- 2/2002 - 9/2002: Research Fellow of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- 4/2001 - 1/2002: Research Fellow of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, UK
- 4/1999 - 4/2001: Individual Marie Curie Research Fellow, Project Head: Prof. P.N. Pusey. Host Institute: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, UK
- 3/1998 - 3/1999: National service in the Greek Army
- 1/1998 - 3/1998: Research Fellow of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Interests
- Dynamics and structure of colloidal dispersions in equilibrium and under shear
- Rheology of colloidal glasses and colloid-polymer gels
- Effects of inter-particle interactions on the structure, dynamics and rheology
- Slow dynamics and ageing of colloidal glasses and gels
- Colloidal dynamics in confinement
- Development of new techniques combining rheology, light scattering and microscopy, optical tweezers for the study of soft matter out of equilibrium
Awards/Prizes/Distinctions
- Graduate Student Fellowship (ΕΜΥ) (1990), Theory division of the Department of Physics, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- “Distinguished student” award: 2nd “Advanced Physics Summer School of University of Crete (1990), Greece
- Graduate Student Fellowship: (1990-1997) University of Crete and Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece
- Marie Curie Research Fellow (1999-2001)
- Marie Curie Research Fellow (return type) (2002-2003)
- Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award (October 2016) Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany

Education
- 1991, Ph.D. in Physics, Brown University, Providence (RI), USA
- 1987, M.Sc. in Physics, Brown University, Providence (RI), USA
- 1985, B.Sc. in Physics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Career
- 2009 - today, Full Professor, Materials Science & Technology Department, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- 2003 - 2009, Associate Professor, Materials Science & Technology Department, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- 2001 - 2003, Senior Researcher, Microelectronics Research Group, FORTH - IESL, Heraklion, Greece
- 1994 - 2001, Research Engineer, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Laboratory of Semiconductor Physics, Grenoble, France
- 1993 - 1994, Postdoctoral Researcher, Max-Planck-Institute, Ultrafast Spectroscopy Group, Stuttgart, Germany
- 1992 - 1993, Research Engineer, France-Telecom, Centre National d’Etudes des Télécommunications, Optical Interconnection Group, Lannion, France
- 1991 - 1992, Postdoctoral Researcher, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Laboratory of Semiconductor Physics, Grenoble, France
Interests
- Quantum dot-based high temperature sources of single and entangled photons
- Polariton lasing and parametric scattering at room temperature
- Next generation solar cells based on halide perovskites and III-V semiconductor nanostructures
- 2D materials for optoelectronic applications
Awards/Prizes/Distinctions
- 2014, Chaire d’Excellence LANEF, funded by the French government, for a project entitled “Nanowire Innovative Solar Cells”
- 2011, Solar Innovation 2010 Award, by the French Atomic Energy Commission for a proposal on “III-V Nanowires for Next Generation Photovoltaics”
- 1993, Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung fellowship,
- 1991, Bourse du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères

A biochemist by training, I have been working for years on the folding, assembly and structure of natural fibrous proteins. I subsequently got interested in using these proteins as models for the design of new fibrous materials, and I continued on this direction since my appointment at the Materials Science and Technology Department at the University of Crete.
I am particularly focusing on how to translate fundamental structural knowledge from natural fibrous proteins into concrete integration strategies and applications in the area of fibrous bio-nano-materials.
These efforts rely not only on biochemical and structural methodologies, but also on the fostering of interdisciplinary collaborations with colleagues from other disciplines (eg laser science) that develop techniques to manipulate, assemble and position these materials in a controlled manner.
Education
- Habilitation, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France, 2003
- Post-Doctoral, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, U.S.A, 1987-1991
- PhD Biochemistry- Enzymology, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France, 1986
- B.S. Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 1981
Career
- Professor of Biomaterials, Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Greece
- Associate Professor of Biomaterials, Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Greece
- Research Scientist, CNRS (French National Research Center), Ιnstitut de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble, France
- Research Scientist, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, U.S.A.
Interests
- the proteins as biomaterials
- engineering and design of fibrous biomaterials
- self-assembling peptides
- protein folding and assembly
- protein engineering and production
Other
Co-author of a textbook “Plenty of Room for Biology at the Bottom: An Introduction to Bionanotechnology”, 2nd Edition (2013), by Ehud Gazit and Anna Mitraki, ISBN: 978-1-84816-930-2, Imperial College Press (World Scientific Publishing).
Jonathan King’s 80th birthday Festschrift
“Protein Folding and Aggregation, Mentoring, and a Molecular Food Recipe”
https://fnl.mit.edu/protein-folding-and-aggregation-mentoring-and-a-molecular-food-recipe/
(with permission from the MIT Faculty Newsletter)

Education
- 1965: Ph.D. Nuclear Science, University of Michigan, USA
- 1963: M. Sc. Physics, University of Michigan, USA
- 1962: M.S.E. Nuclear Engineering University of Michigan, U.S.A
- 1958: Diploma E.E. and M.E., National Technical University, Greece
Career
- 2003-today: Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser-FORTH, Greece
- 2003-today: Professor Emeritus, Physics Department, University of Crete, Greece
- 1993-2000: Director, Theory Division, Max-Planck Institut fuer Quantenoptik, Germany
- 1988 - 1991: Department Chairman, University of Southern California, U.S.A.
- 1983-1997: Director, Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser-FORTH, Greece
- 1982-2003: Professor, Physics Department, University of Crete, Greece
- 1980 - 1982: Department Co-Chair, University of Southern California, U.S.A.
- 1979 - 1981: Professor, University of Patras, Greece
- 1978-1993: Professor, University of Southern California, U.S.A.
- 1975 - 1978: Associate Professor, University of Southern California, U.S.A.
- 1975 - 1978: Assistant to Associate Professor, University of Southern California, U.S.A.
- 1972 - 1973: Visiting Fellow, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado, U.S.A.
- 1967 - 1972: Assistant Physicist, Argonne National Laboratory Illinois, U.S.A.
- 1965 - 1967: Senior Physicist, Bendix Research Laboratory Southfield, Michigan, U.S.A.
- 1964 - 1965: Research Associate, Radiation Laboratory, University of Michigan, U.S.A.
- 1961 - 1964: Research Assistant, University of Michigan, U.S.A.
Interests
- Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, Quantum Technologies
Awards/Prizes/Distinctions
- Fellow of the American Physical Society and European Physical Society
- Xanthopoulos-Pneumatikos Prize for Excellence in University Teaching, 2003
- Distinguished Fellow of FORTH, 2003
- Chair of Gordon Research Conference on Multiphoton Processes, 1990
- Raubenheimer Prize of Excellence in Research, Teaching and Administration, University of Southern California, 1989
- Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, 1986
- Co-Chairman of ICOMP (Intrenational Conference on Multiphoton Processes), 1977, 1984, 1996, 2002
Other
- Member of the NATO Science Council, 1984-86
- Member of the Editorial Board of Zeitschrift fuer Physik D, 1984-91
- Member of the Round Table on Synchrotrons of the Large Installations Program of the EEC, 1991 - 93
- Member of the Board of Associate Editors of The European Physical Journal D, 1991-97
- Chairman of the Greek National Research Council, 1994 - 97
- Chairman of the European Group on Atomic Systems (EGAS) of EPS, 1999 - 2005
- Series Co-Editor of Springer Verlag Series of Books on Atoms and Plasmas
- Member and/or Co-Chairman of Organizing Committees of International Conferences such as International Conferences on Multiphoton Processes, European Conference on Atomic and Molecular Physics, NATO Advanced Study Workshop, etc
- Member at various times (since 1984) of Ad Hoc Committees on Scientific Policy and Funding of the EEC
- Recipient continuously since 1974 of National Science Foundation (USA) Grants
- Member of the Advisory Editorial Board of Physical Review A, 1978-80
- Member of the Panel on Atomic and Molecular Theory of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 1985-88
- Member of special NSF panel for the evaluation of proposals for Science Centers in AMO Physics, 1987-88.
- Member of the Program Committee of the Division of Atomic-Molecular-Optical Physics of the American Physical Society, 1990-1993.
- Recipient continuously since 1986 of Department of Energy (USA) Grants
- Reviewer for Physical Review & Physical Review Letters, J. of Physics (U.K.) Journal of Chemical Physics, Chemical Physics Letters, Journal of Optical Society (U.S.A.), National Science Foundation, Research Corporation (U.S.A.), National Research Council (Canada)
- Reviewer of Proposals for NSF, DOE, Research Corporations, NATO, EEC
- Ph.D. thesis advisor or postdoctoral research advisor to about 50 students at the University of Southern California, the University of Crete and the Max-Planck-Institut für Quantum Optics, Garching

I studied Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated with Highest Honors in 1986. I then studied under Prof. Dan Neumark at the University of California at Berkeley, graduating in 1991 with a PhD in Chemical Physics/Physical Chemistry. Following two years of postdoctoral research at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore California with Dr. David Chandler, I returned to Greece to join the Faculty at the University of Crete and the Institute of Electronic Structure and Lasers at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas. From 2013 I have also an Adjunct Professorship at the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University and the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, in Göttingen Germany.
My main research interests are in the field of chemical dynamics. I have made well-recognized important contributions to the understanding of the state to state Photodissociation dynamics of molecules and clusters that helped shape the field. My laboratory was amongst the first photofragment ion imaging machines in Europe and part of the EU- funded Imaging Research Networks, continuously since 1997. In 2001 we pioneered a new variant of ion imaging and velocity mapping that called Slice Imaging. My team has also extended the use of charged particle imaging to the fields of (i) Molecular Electronics, by studying the electron transmission through organized thin films, (ii) Dye Sensitized Photovoltaics, and (iii) in Medical Spectroscopy / Ophthalmology, where we pioneered laser-based methods to the cross linking treatment of keratoconus, (iv)
Since 2013 I am also group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinery Sciences, in Göttingen Germany, where I have built a new experimental operation looking at fundamental processes on surfaces. My new team has demonstrated for the first time that the novel imaging techniques, developed on Crete, can be implemented towards studying the underlying chemical dynamics and kinetics for elementary processes in heterogeneous catalysis (Velocity Resolved Kinetics).
Education
- 1986, BSc with Highest Honors in Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
- 1991, PhD in Physical Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, USA
Career
- 1994-1999, Assistant Professor University of Crete and Research associate IESL-FORTH, Greece
- 1999-2007, Associate Professor University of Crete and Research associate IESL-FORTH, Greece
- 2007- present, Professor University of Crete and Research associate IESL-FORTH, Greece
- 2012-present, Affiliated Professor University and Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Germany
Interests
- Chemical Dynamics and Kinetics, Ion and Electron Imaging, Heterogeneous Catalysis
Awards/Prizes/Distinctions
- Humboldt Foundation Research Award 2012
- Friedrich von Bessel Award, Humboldt Foundation 2004
- Bodossaki Science Award in Chemistry 2003
- University of California Regents Fellow, Berkeley 1988-89
- IBM Predoctoral Fellow, Berkeley 1987-88
- Phi Beta Kappa, 1986
- B.J. Freud Award, Outstanding Junior in Chemistry, University of Illinois 1985