Prof. Dr. Uwe Zeitner becomes CZS Endowed Professor at the University of Jena

Jena / June 16, 2025

After Uwe Zeitner, a long-standing colleague and member of the Scientific Directorate at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, accepted an appointment at Munich University of Applied Sciences in 2022, he has now returned to the Institute of Applied Physics (IAP) at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and occupies the endowed professorship for Micro- and Nano-Optical Systems funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.

Uwe Zeitner studied at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena from 1990 to 1995, where he obtained his diploma at the Institute of Applied Physics under Dr. Ernst-Bernhard Kley and Prof. Kowarschik. Subsequently, he received his doctorate as the first doctoral student of Prof. Frank Wyrowski. He has been with Fraunhofer IOF since 1999 - first as a scientist, later as a group leader and since 2017 as head of the Department for Mircooptical Systems. In 2020, he was appointed to the institute's Scientific Directorate, where he is still active today. In 2022, he moved to Munich to take over the Chair of Technical Optics at Munich University of Applied Sciences. He has now returned to Jena as a CZS Endowed Professor.

Many years of commitment at Fraunhofer IOF

During his time at Fraunhofer IOF, Prof. Zeitner has made a significant contribution to the further development of the institute. He took on responsibility for personnel and projects early on, first as group leader and from 2017 as head of department. In this role, he was responsible for numerous exciting projects in the fields of micro-optics, polarization measurement, optical design and laser lithography. Uwe Zeitner was also primarily responsible for the commissioning of the electron beam lithography system (ELIT). Another significant success was the establishment of a second working group within the Center for Innovation Competence (ZIK) “ultra optics”, which he headed.

Even during his professorship in Munich, Prof. Zeitner remained associated with Fraunhofer IOF in various positions. He has been a member of the Scientific Directorate since 2020, which he continues to actively shape to this day. In addition, he continues to act as a contact person for the “Optical Systems” business field, which he played a key role in establishing.

A colleague returns

Uwe Zeitner worked at Munich University of Applied Sciences for a total of two and a half years. When asked why he decided to return to Jena, he replies: “In Munich, the focus was on applications. I was already familiar with this from my time at Fraunhofer IOF, but as a scientist I want to get to grips with the fundamentals even more.” He adds: “The collaboration with industry is very close, but there is not as much infrastructure for research available.”

A gain for research and teaching in Jena

In November 2024, Prof. Zeitner was appointed to the University of Jena, where he has been “CZS Endowed Professor for Micro- and Nanooptical Systems - Design, Technology and Application” since May 9. In teaching, he is planning a special lecture on physical optics. In addition to his teaching activities, Prof. Zeitner will conduct research at the Fraunhofer IOF, the IAP's partner institute, thanks to the Berlin professorship model. He will focus in particular on lithography technology and the development of new materials for nano-optics: “Together we want to take nanostructuring for optical applications to a new level!” says Zeitner.

When asked what he is most looking forward to in Jena, he answers: “Clearly the excellent facilities and the colleagues here!”

We are delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Uwe Zeitner back to Jena!

Good to have you back, dear Uwe!

Recommended reading: Our colleague Ira Winkler interviewed Uwe Zeitner for the IAP. Read the full interview here.