Our group investigates the transformative potential of light, with a focus on structured-light-mediated interactions at the nanoscale. We explore the nuanced behavior of photons and their capacity to manipulate material properties, enabling new regimes of optical control. Central to our research is the development of advanced nanophotonic platforms, including metasurfaces, metafibres, integrated metawaveguides, photonic circuits, and optically addressable low-dimensional materials. Through these systems, we aim to harness light to drive next-generation technologies in areas such as multi-dimensional imaging, optical displays, ultrasensitive sensing, quantum photonics, and lightwave valleytronics.
We are broadly interested in various topics in nanophotonics, currently focusing on flat meta-optics and its integration with on-chip waveguides, which could find applications in various photonics fields. We are also interested in light-matter interactions with 2D materials, phase-change materials, and light-driven valley materials. Our Nanophotonics Lab at Monash is co-led by Stefan Maier (HoS).
Dr Haoran Ren, Group Leader, CV
Dr Chi Li, Research Fellow
Ramona Bedford, PhD
Haoyi Yu PhD (co-supervision with Stefan)
Phoenix Casey, PhD
Yizheng Yao, PhD (incoming in March 2026)
Jordan Klein, PhD (offered, Best Honours Student/Thesis of the year)
Bozhe Li, PhD (co-supervision with Jiawen at UA)
Qixuan Min, PhD (offered, co-supervision with Stefan)
Kezhou Jiang, PhD (offered, co-supervision with Stefan)
Dale Goralsky, Honours student
Zeyuan Jin, Honours student
Peter Kepic, visiting PhD (2024)
Nilo Mata-Cervera, visiting PhD (2024)
Ondrej Cervinka, visiting PhD (2024)
Yatao Yang, visiting PhD (2024)
Zeyuan Jin (2025 Research project student)
Jesunifemi Kehinde (2025 Research project student)
Andrew Lorimer (2024-2025 Research project student)
Jemery Tam (2024-2025 Research project student)
Zhaoyang Xie (2023-2024 graduated master student)
Alice Jiao (2024 Honours)
Joseph Ward (2023 Research project student)
Leon Miller (2023 Research project student)
Many CONGRADULATIONS to Jordan, who has been awarded by two highest Physics prizes at the School of Physics and Astronomy (Monash University). The excellence of Jordan’s honours study has been recognised for both the J. J. McNeill Prize and the Rodney L. Turner Prize. https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/physics/honours/prizes
We will welcome our new PhD student Yizheng Yao from Nanjing University to embark a PhD with us, excited to have you 😇
Congrats to Jordan (Best Honours Student of the year; Best Honours Thesis), Phoenix, Olivia, and Hugh for receiving their PhD scholarships from the Faculty, great outcome!
Structured Nanophotonics Group 