Jan Lagerwall

Jan Lagerwall is a Full Professor of Experimental Soft Matter Physics at the University of Luxembourg’s Department of Physics and Materials Science, leading the Experimental Soft Matter Physics (ESMP) group. His research focuses on liquid crystals, colloids, and polymers in unconventional contexts like wearable technology and soft robotics. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science (Chalmers University of Technology, 2002) and has held academic positions at Seoul National University (2010–2014) and Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (2007–2010). He teaches courses such as Continuum Mechanics and organizes international summer schools on liquid crystals.

• Education: M.Sc. (Chalmers, 1997), Ph.D. (Chalmers, 2002), Docent (Chalmers, 2007), Habilitation (Martin-Luther University, 2010)
• Languages: English, French, Italian, German, Swedish

Research interests include self-assembly processes, liquid crystal applications in structural health monitoring, and soft robotics. His work bridges fundamental physics and applied technologies, with notable contributions to biocompatible materials and solar cell efficiency. He has received prestigious grants like the ERC Consolidator Grant and early-career awards from the German Liquid Crystal Society.

He founded a company in 2024 via technology transfer and is active in science communication, having organized TEDx events in Luxembourg and South Korea. His ESMP group’s interdisciplinary work spans materials science, nanotechnology, and renewable energy.