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The image shows the sign for Hochschule RheinMain, a university, prominently displayed in front of a modern building. Surrounding the sign are green plants and trees. Two people are visible near the entrance, suggesting a lively campus atmosphere.

Hochschule RheinMain –
University of Applied
Sciences and Arts

Degree Programs

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Stefan Kontermann

Portrait: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Stefan Kontermann
A-320
Stefan.Kontermann@hs-rm.de
+49 6142 8984546
+49 6142 8984528
Summer Semester 2026: By prior email registration, specifying the topic: Thu 1:30
Postal address Postfach 3251 65022 Wiesbaden
Visitor address Am Brückweg 26 65428 Rüsselsheim

Vita

Higher education

2005–2009 University of Konstanz, doctoral studies, Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.), under Prof. Dr. G. Willeke.

2003–2004 University of Karlsruhe, Physics, Bachelor’s degree in Physics, under Prof. Dr. H. v. Löhneysen.

2002–2003 University of Adelaide, Australia, Physics (Solid State and Lasers), under Prof. Dr. J. Munch.

1999 – 2002 University of Karlsruhe, Physics, intermediate diploma in Physics, under Prof. Dr. C. Klingshirn.

1998 – 1999 University of Karlsruhe, Mechanical Engineering, intermediate diploma in Materials Science, under Prof. Dr. O. Vöhringer.

 

 

Professional and research experience, academic background

2015 – today RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Professor of Technical Optics and Photonics
Head of the “Photonics” research group at the Institute of Microtechnologies; establishment and operation of a laboratory for ultrashort-pulse laser technology; acquisition of external funding for projects in the field of femtosecond laser material functionalization; supervision of doctoral students; lectures in the “Applied Physics” (Master’s) and “Applied Physics” (Bachelor’s), supervision of doctoral dissertations, master’s theses, and bachelor’s theses, management, further development, and reaccreditation of the “Applied Physics (M.Sc.)” program, laser safety officer, chair of the Public Relations Committee.       

2010 – 2014 Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), Fiber Optic Sensor Systems Department, Berlin/Goslar
Head of the “Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion” research group: Development of ultrashort-pulse laser processes for fiber-optic sensors and laser functionalization of nanomaterials. Development of adaptive laser pulse shaping using light modulators in ultrashort-pulse laser material processing, project acquisition, patent applications, organization of trade show appearances and conferences, supervision of doctoral and master’s theses. Responsibility for personnel, budget, and projects.

2009 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Visiting Researcher,
Study of the optical properties of silicon defects, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. T. Buonassisi

2008 – 2009 PSE AG, Freiburg, Process Engineer, Transfer of photovoltaic technology to the solar industry.

2008 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA, visiting researcher, TEM microscopy of silver-silicon nanostructures, under the supervision of Dr. C. Kisielowski (2 months).

2007 University of New South Wales, ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence, Sydney, Australia, Visiting Researcher “Photoluminescence Characterization of High-Efficiency Solar Cells” Research group led by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. T. Trupke (3 months).

2005 – 2009 Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), “Production Technology” Department, “Laser and PVD Processes” Group, Freiburg. Research Associate, development of contact and laser processes for laser-fired-contact solar cells. SEM analysis and simulation of microstructures at metal-semiconductor interfaces.

2003 – 2004     University of Karlsruhe, Department of Physics, Cryostat Technology and Superconductors.

1999 – 2002     University of Karlsruhe, Institute of Materials Science I, Fatigue Testing Laboratory, Materials Testing.

 

 

Involvement in academic self-governance and in the academic community

2024 – present    Planning, development, and implementation of the international “Applied Physics M.Sc.” program

2019 – present    Program Director of the “Applied Physics M.Sc.” master's program

2019 – present    Deputy Head of the Physics Department

2016 – present    Head of the “Photonics” Research Group

2019 – 2021     Director of the Institute for Microtechnologies (IMtech)

2016 – 2021     Chair of the Public Relations Committee

2015 – present    Head of the Laboratory for Technical Optics

2015 – present    Laser Safety Officer

2015 – present    Self-governance duties (public relations, program development, field trips, conference attendance, trade show participation) at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences

2014                Organization of the innovation forum “Laser Technology in the LED Lighting Industry,” in collaboration with the Lower Saxony Optical Technologies Competence Network “PhotonicNet.”

2013–2014     Contributed to the design, organization, and implementation of the master’s program in “Energy and Materials Physics,” particularly the “Photonics and Energy” module, at Clausthal University of Technology.

2013 – 2014     Preparation of the Fraunhofer spin-off “InfraPV”: technology development of the black silicon solar cell and associated production facility, business plan development, and acquisition of venture capital.

2012 – 2014     German Industry Foundation: Representative of the Clausthal scholarship group.

2012 – 2014     Organization of quality management and annual audits for ISO 9001:2008 certification of the Fraunhofer HHI Department of Fiber Optic Sensor Systems, Goslar.

2011 – present    Reviewer for various journals, including Applied Physics Letters, Applied Physics A, Applied Surface Science, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal of Photovoltaics, and Energy Procedia.

2010 – 2014    Co-organizer of the conference for the “Kaiser Friedrich Research Prize.”

2008 – 2010    Conceptualization and execution of the physics event “Do you know? Show!”, Mensabar Freiburg.

2007 – 2010    Juror for Jugend forscht, Freiburg.

 

 

Awards, outstanding thesis supervision, and scholarships
 

2022                Optence Research Award, “Construction and Characterization of a Multi-Wavelength Interferometer for the Visible Spectral Range,” for the supervised master's thesis by Dennis Rosendahl, in collaboration with Ametek GmbH, Luphos Division, Weiterstadt

2021                Young Scientist Award of the 11th High-Level Expert Meeting, “Detection and Compensation of Wavelength Fluctuations Using a Glass Reference Cell,” for the supervised master’s thesis by Sven Thoma, in cooperation with Ametek GmbH, Luphos Division, Weiterstadt.

2020                Optence Sponsorship Award, “Development and Investigation of Process-Optimized Intensity Distributions for Laser Micromachining Using a Diffractive Beam Shaping System,” for the supervised master’s thesis by Patrick McKearney, in cooperation with Pulsar Photonics GmbH, Aachen.

2016                VDI Sponsorship Award “Optimization of the frequency conversion of ultrashort laser pulses in gas-filled hollow-core waveguides,” for the supervised master’s thesis by Mario Hilbig, in cooperation with TU Darmstadt, Prof. T. Halfmann.

2013                “Best Oral Presentation Award” in the “Characterization Methods” category, 39th IEEE PVSC, Tampa, Florida, USA (K.-M. Guenther, T. Gimpel, W. Schade, and S. Kontermann).

2012                Winner of the “Landmark of Ideas” competition, Science category,
Title: “Fraunhofer Project: Tailored Light Pulses.”

2008                “Best Visual Presentation Award,” Advanced Photovoltaics category, 22nd PVSEC, Milan, Italy (E. Pink, T. Trupke, R.A. Bardos, M.D. Abbott, Y. Augarten, and S. Kontermann).

2005 – 2009     Ph.D. fellowship, Foundation of German Industry (sdw), Berlin.

2005 – 2008     Research Fellowship, Freiburg Materials Research Center.

2005 – 2006     Endeavour Europe Award (1-year doctoral fellowship) from the Australian Government (not accepted).

2002 – 2003     Study abroad scholarship (one year) for studies in Australia, Baden-Württemberg Program, International Office, University of Karlsruhe.

2000 – 2004     Scholarship recipient of the Foundation of German Business (sdw), Berlin, study scholarship.

 

Research and projects

Research projects:

www.hs-rm.de/imtech/arbeitsgruppen/photonik/forschung