Through the lens

7 Episodes
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By: Mathilde Hary - Julie Langlois

Through the Lens gives a voice to optics researchers to share their journey, their daily work, and their research in a clear and accessible way. Through honest and human conversations, the podcast offers a look into the life of a researcher, their discoveries, challenges, and perspectives, with the goal of inspiring students and opening the door to scientific research. With funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Consolidator Grant, grant agreement no. 101044777 (INSPIRE)). MSCA : WINGS-AI 101276295

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Saison 2 – Épisode 2 : Bhavin Shastri
Saison 2 – Épisode 2 : Bhavin Shastri episode artwork
Last Tuesday at 8:27 AM

In this episode, we welcome Bhavin Shastri, Associate Professor at Queen’s University in Canada and a leading researcher in neuromorphic photonic computing. He shares his journey in research and explores how light can be used to develop new approaches to computing. From photonics and artificial intelligence to neuromorphic systems inspired by the way the brain processes information, this conversation looks at how light-based technologies could help shape the future of computing.


Saison 2 – Épisode 1 : Stefania Oliveri
Saison 2 – Épisode 1 : Stefania Oliveri episode artwork
09/21/2026

To kick off Season 2 of Through the Lens, we meet Stefania Oliveri, researcher at FEMTO-ST, and discover the world of cleanrooms.

In this episode, Stefania explains what working in a cleanroom really means: maintaining and repairing equipment, helping researchers learn how to use it, keeping the environment under control… and everything else that goes on behind the experiments.

She also introduces us to thin films, exploring how these very thin layers of material are used in optics and photonics research.

From the practical side of research to the science behind thin films, this ep...


EP 5 - François Courvoisier
EP 5 - François Courvoisier episode artwork
07/20/2026

In this new episode, we welcome François Courvoisier, professor at the University of Franche-Comté and researcher at FEMTO-ST. He looks back on his journey into research, shares his vision of the field today, and explains how ultrafast lasers are opening up new possibilities in science and industry.


EP 4 - Jacob Puhalo-Smith
EP 4 - Jacob Puhalo-Smith episode artwork
06/06/2026

In episode 4, we welcome Jacob Puhalo-Smith, originally from Wales and currently a PhD student working in the field of photonics. He talks about his academic journey and research activities, including 3D photonic waveguide design, neuromorphic computing approaches.



EP 3 - Mehdi Mabed
EP 3 - Mehdi Mabed episode artwork
04/29/2026

In episode 3, we welcome Mehdi Mabed, a postdoctoral researcher. He shares what led him to his field, reflects on his journey, and opens up through anecdotes about what surprised him in the world of ultrafast optics.



EP 2 - Magdalena Marciniak
EP 2 - Magdalena Marciniak episode artwork
03/11/2026

In episode 2, we welcome Magdalena Marciniak, a physicist specializing in photonics. She talks about what led her to physics, her work on monolithic subwavelength gratings, and how her international experiences in Berlin, in Spain and in France. 


EP 1 - Luc Froehly
EP 1 - Luc Froehly episode artwork
01/11/2026

For the first episode, Mathilde Hary spoke with Luc Froehly, a CNRS researcher and head of the opto-electronics group at the FEMTO-ST laboratory in Besançon.