Our Group

Group Leaders

Mika Lastusaari
Professor
Leader of photonic materials research  
Ari Lehtonen
University Lecturer, Adjunct Professor
Leader of metal-organic research

University Teachers

Anssi Peuronen
University Teacher, Adjunct Professor

Postdoctoral Researchers


Doctoral Candidates, Project Workers

Cecilia Agamah
Doctoral Candidate, photonics
Narhari Sapkota
Doctoral Candidate, metal-organic
Pinja Tamminen
Doctoral Candidate, photonics
Natalia Antonova
Project Worker
Bettiina Muurinen
Doctoral Candidate, photonics
Joshua Baggott
Doctoral Candidate, photonics
Oskari Koivisto
Doctoral Candidate, metal-organics
Tinja Kylänpää
Project worker

Students, visitors

Kirsi Miller
MSc student, photonics
Nina Rehnberg
MSc student, photonics
Sinna Lampinen
MSc student, photonics
Samu Raunio
MSc student, photonics
Pekka Piivek
MSc student, photonics
Tommi Mäenpää
MSc student, photonics
Kaisa Miller
MSc student, photonics
Jenni Ali-Penttilä
MSc student, photonics
Aino Kärsämänoja
MSc student, photonics
Joonatan Tuoresjärvi
MSc student, photonics
Rajith Perera
MSc student, photonics
Chamodi Wickrama Arachchige
MSc student, photonics
Azizur Rahman
MSc student, metal-organics
Sanele Sibanda
MSc student, metal-organics
Ossi Mustonen
BSc student, photonics
Aaron Söderlund
BSc student, photonics
Tero Reunanen
BSc student, photonics
Joona Anttonen
BSc student, photonics
Anette Mehto
MSc student, metal-organics
Markus Kärpijoki
BSc student, photonics
Nanna Elomaa
BSc student, photonics
Max Mäkilä
BSc student, photonics
Aada Puosi
BSc student, photonics
Jenna Mäkilä
BSc student, metal-organics

Honorary members

Hellen Santos
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Halogen hectorites: Smectites designed to luminesce, 2017, University of Turku

Tero Laihinen
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Lanthanide doped NaYF4 up-conversion luminescence materials, 2016, University of Turku

José Carvalho
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Synthesis and spectroscopic investigation of new phosphors doped with Ti and Ce ions for persistent luminescence and solid-state lighting applications, 2015, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Liana Nakamura
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Noble metals nanoparticles on titanium dioxide nanostructured films and the influence of their photocatalytic activity, 2012, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Lucas C. V. Rodrigues
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Preparation and development of the persistent luminescence mechanism of rare earth doped materials, 2012, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Emilia Palo
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Modifying upconverting nanoparticles with polyelectrolyte multilayers, 2019, University of Turku

Esko Salojärvi
PhD, metal-organic

PhD thesis: The optical and magnetic properties of redox-active d-block metal complexes with non-innocent ligands, 2021, University of Turku

Isabella Norrbo
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Synthetic hackmanites and their optical properties – from theory to applications, 2019, University of Turku

Minnea Tuomisto
PhD, Postdoc, photonics

PhD thesis: Upconverting luminescent materials for solar energy conversion, 2019, University of Turku

Pasi Salonen
PhD, metal-organic

PhD thesis: Aminophenolato complexes of Mo, W and V In catalytic alkene epoxidation and catechol oxidation, 2021, University of Turku

Hannah Byron
PhD, photonics

PhD thesis: Tuning Photochromic Sodalites Across the Visible Spectrum, 2023, University of Turku

Ian Machado
Postdoc, photonics

PhD thesis: Size and optical versatility in rare earth oxysulfide photonic materials, 2021, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Sami Vuori
PhD, Postdoc, Photonics

PhD thesis: Reversible photochromism of synthetic hackmanites in radiation detection and quantification, 2023, University of Turku

Amrithakrishnan Bindhu
Postdoc, Photonics