Triple victory for young researchers

Jena/ Berlin/ December 5, 2025

Two researchers from Fraunhofer IOF and the Institute of Applied Physics have been honored with the Quantum Future Award for their theses in the field of applied quantum technologies. Dr. Marta Gilaberte Basset and Trevor Vrckovnik each received second place in the doctoral and master's categories, with the latter also being honored with the audience award. The Quantum Future Award is presented annually by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space.

Quantum future made in Jena: Two researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF and the Institute of Applied Physics (IAP) at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena were honored with the Quantum Future Award from the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) in November. Dr. Marta Gilaberte Basset, a scientist in the Photonic Quantum Systems department at Fraunhofer IOF, took second place in the doctoral category with her dissertation "Resolution limits of quantum imaging with undetected light and optimization towards application". Trevor Vrckovnik also secured second place in the master's category with his thesis "Non-linear waveguide designs leveraging unique material optical susceptibility tensors" and additionally won the audience award.

With the Quantum Future Award, the BMFTR annually honors innovative theses in the field of applied quantum technologies. On November 21, the applicants presented their theses in short pitches, and a jury subsequently selected the winners in each category.

Efficient waveguide designs for quantum applications

Photonic technologies are considered key to innovations such as ultra-fast data communication and quantum encryption. However, to make these technologies accessible for mass production, their basic building blocks, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), must be simpler, more efficient, and capable of being manufactured in larger quantities. In his now award-winning master's thesis, Trevor Vrckovnik developed a simulation method that systematically searches through large quantities of parameters and identifies particularly efficient waveguide designs. His research showed that certain materials already enable the generation of polarization-entangled photons in simple waveguides, which was previously considered a complex undertaking. The resulting structures are particularly compact and cost-effective, enabling smaller and more affordable quantum sources for the future widespread use of quantum technologies.

“For me, the Quantum Future Award is confirmation that our research contributes to socially relevant quantum technologies. The honor motivates me to explore new frontiers in integrated quantum technology," said Vrckovnik, commenting on his award.

The future of medical imaging

Marta Gilaberte Basset researched quantum imaging with undetected light as part of her doctoral studies and received the second doctoral prize of the Quantum Future Award for her work. In her thesis, she developed a compact quantum imaging technology that can be combined with classical applications such as holography and investigated how system parameters can be optimally adapted depending on the area of application. The technology allows different wavelengths to be used for illumination and detection—such as infrared light for medical diagnostics with efficient imaging via visible cameras. This is particularly relevant for examining sensitive samples, as it significantly improves image quality.

The researcher sees the award as a great motivation for transferring research into concrete applications: “The award shows that the integration of quantum technologies into our everyday lives is being promoted politically. For me, the award is a great honor and an incentive to push ahead with the transition from the laboratory to practical application.”