Photonic Sensing for Environment and Health
Tuesday, 30. September 2025, 11:00 - 18:30 h
Empa, Akademie, Dübendorf
Photonic sensing technologies are essential tools for addressing critical challenges in environmental monitoring and healthcare. This workshop explores the latest advances in photonic-based sensing systems, focusing on their applications for real-time detection, analysis, and mitigation of environmental pollutants and health biomarkers. Key topics include the development of optical sensors for air and water quality monitoring, compact spectroscopic systems for early disease diagnostics, and integrated photonic platforms for wearable health monitoring.
Program
11:00 |
Laboratory tours / optional
|
12:00 |
Lunch / optional |
|
|
13:00 |
Welcome Coffee |
|
|
13:30 |
Welcome |
|
|
13:45 |
Integrated Nanophotonics: Enabling Technology for Life Science and Biomedical Applications |
|
|
14:15 |
Photonic sensors for transcutaneous biomarker detection |
|
|
14:30 |
Label-Free Biosensing with Grating-Coupled Interferometry for Drug Discovery |
|
|
14:45 |
From Light to Life: PPG-Based Wearables for Continuous Vital Sign Monitoring |
|
|
15:00 |
Coffee break |
|
|
15:30 |
Exploring boundaries: environmental trace gas sensors for mobile platforms |
|
|
16:00 |
How traditional process photometry enables new applications |
|
|
16:15 |
From Light to Insight: Continuous Methane Monitoring for GHG Reduction |
|
|
16:30 |
Advanced light scattering solutions to accelerate new product formulations |
|
|
16:45 |
From Light to Life: Advanced Metrology's Photonic Pathways into Life Science |
|
|
17:00 |
Closing |
|
|
17:10 |
Apéro und Networking |
|
|
18:30 |
End of the event |
Venue
Empa – Akademie
Überlandstrasse 129
8600 Dübendorf
The Empa-Akademie is located on the Empa campus, which can easily be reached by bus (bus stop Dübendorf-EMPA), Tram (Tram stop Dübendorf Am Ring) or by train (10-minute walk from railway station Dübendorf).
Please note that the number of toll parking spaces on the site is limited. We therefore strongly recommend travelling by public transportation.
Details and options to reach Empa can be found here.
Organizing Committee
Andreas Ettemeyer – si-hub
Michel Calame – Transport at Nanoscale Interfaces Laboratory, Empa
Rolf Eckert – CSEM
Lukas Emmenegger – Laboratory for Air Pollution/Environmental Technology, Empa
Andrea Fischer – Laboratory for Air Pollution/Environmental Technology, Empa
Martina Heeb – IMP, OST
Tobias Lamprecht – IMP, OST
Jehan Mukawel – SIP Ost
Frank Nüesch – Laboratory for Functional Polymers, Empa
David Schmid – CSEM
Speakers

Integrated Nanophotonics: Enabling Technology for Life Science and Biomedical Applications
Hatice Altug, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Hatice Altug received her Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Stanford University (U.S.) in 2007. She is professor at Ecole Polytechnique since 2013 and leading BioNanoPhotonic Systems Laboratory. Her research is focused in the application of nanophotonics to life sciences and biomedical fields with the development of cutting-edge biosensing, spectroscopy and bioimaging systems.

Exploring boundaries: environmental trace gas sensors for mobile platforms
Béla Tuzson, Empa
After his doctoral studies at the Max-Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, he joined Empa as a postdoc, where he contributed to establish the isotope ratio measurements of trace gases based on quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology.

Photonic sensors for transcutaneous biomarker detection
Jean-Christophe Blancon, Liom
Dr. Jean-Christophe Blancon leads the Biophotonics department at Liom Health, advancing non-invasive glucose monitoring. A 2019 Highly Cited Researcher, he specializes in photophysics and sensing.

Label-Free Biosensing with Grating-Coupled Interferometry for Drug Discovery
Berk Yesin, Malvern Creoptix
Berk Yesin leads the multi-disciplinary R&D team at Creoptix, a bioanalytical instruments company based in Wädenswil which has been a part of Malvern Panalytical since 2022.

From Light to Life: PPG-Based Wearables for Continuous Vital Sign Monitoring
Philipp Vetter, Rheo
Philipp is the founder of Rheo, a startup developing AI-driven vitals monitoring. With a PhD in computational science, he has worked on health reforms, digital clinical data, and scalable care models.

How traditional process photometry enables new applications
Yves Gubelmann, Sigrist Photometer
Today, Yves Gubelmann is a Solutions Engineer at Sigrist-Photometer with a focus on water applications. Thanks to his engineering background Yves has shaped Sigrist's modern calibration plants and has gained a profound understanding of Sigrist instruments.

From Light to Insight: Continuous Methane Monitoring for GHG Reduction
Hedwig Knötig, Sensirion Connected Solutions
Hedwig Knötig works as Product Manager at Sensirion Connected Solutions. She received her PhD from TU Wien, where she worked on mid-infrared lasers and detectors for environmental monitoring.

Advanced light scattering solutions to accelerate new product formulations
Gora Conley, LS Instruments
Gora Conley received PhD in Experimental Physics (Fribourg). He Co-founded and led a medical device startup in Lausanne. Now he is Business & Sales Manager at LS Instruments, Fribourg.

From Light to Life: Advanced Metrology's Photonic Pathways into Life Science
Jean Berney, CSEM
Jean is a distinguished photonics expert with a track record in the semiconductor and optical industries, who loves to create and scale high-tech companies, focusing on establishing a bold vision, then building an amazing team and finally leading people and technology towards the vision.

-
Share