Jehona Salaj
Virgečilgehus
As a PhD Student in Photonics, I am responsible for advancing research in free-standing waveguides with a focus on their application in trace gas sensing. My work involves theoretical and experimental research to develop on-chip spectroscopic solutions. Key aspects of my role include:
- Research & Development: I contribute to research on free-standing thin-film waveguides for mid-infrared applications, especially in the context of trace gas sensing. In this capacity, I have developed waveguides for sensing carbon dioxide and methane, with applications ranging from environmental monitoring to biomedical sciences.
- Experimental Work in Cleanroom Settings: I perform hands-on work in cleanroom facilities, utilizing tools such as the e-beam evaporator, PECVD, MLA, EBL, ICP-RIE, SEM, etc., to fabricate and characterize photonic components.
- Data Analysis & Computational Modeling: I use computational tools (e.g., Lumerical, MPB, MATLAB, Python) to simulate optical properties and model the behaviour of photonic structures. I also analyze experimental data to interpret results and refine device designs.
- Professional affiliations: I am the current leader of the Arctic Optica Student Chapter and the current UiT representative to the PhD council of the TNNN Research School. I am a member of SPIE and of the European Optical Society.
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Dutkanberoštumit
My current research interests are nanophotonics, photonic integrated circuits, nanofabrication, and spectroscopy.
My role in past and current projects:
- sCENT: Cryptophane-Enhanced Trace Gas Spectroscopy for On-Chip Methane Detection (2018-2024): waveguide design, fabrication, characterization, spectroscopic measurements, data processing
- sCENT2: Micro-Scale Photonic Trace Gas Sensor (2024-2025): waveguide design and fabrication
- sCENTsor: Ultra-sensitive and compact gas sensor (2024-2025): waveguide design and fabrication
- On-chip Raman-spectroscopy of extracellular vesicles (2020-2024): fabrication
- CESURA: Lithographically Cleaved Coupling Edges For Suspended Membrane Waveguides (2024-2025): funding acquisition, design, fabrication, characterization.
Member of research group
CV
Experience:
- November 2020 - Present: PhD Student - UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- July 2019 - February 2020: Project Researcher - University of Oulu
- August 2012 - October 2012: Intern - University of Eastern Finland
Education:
M. Sc. in Photonics (2019)
- University of Eastern Finland, Finland
- Thesis: "Polarization beating with random electromagnetic beams"
B. Sc. in Physics (2011)
- University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi"
- Thesis: "Theory and practical implementations of nanocavities in planar photonic crystals"
Skills:
- Cleanroom licenced tools: E-beam evaporator, PECVD, EBL, MLA, ICP-RIE, SEM.
- Computing skills: Python, MATLAB, MPB, Lumerical.
Grants and Awards:
- Tycho Jæger's Prize in Electro-optics - Irma Salo Jæger and Tycho Jæger's Foundation & Norwegian Physical Society, 2024
- UiT Talent Grant - UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 2023.
- Best Poster Award - 7th ePIXfab Silicon Photonics Summer School, 2022
Patents:
- “Optical component (Microstructured air-suspended thin-film waveguide for spectroscopic trace gas sensing)”, Jana Jágerská, Marek Vlk, Ganapathy Senthil Murugan, Jehona Salaj; International publication number: WO2024052427A1