Taavi Repän

Taavi Repän is an Associate Professor of Computational Photonics at the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu. He has held this position since December 2021, with his current appointment running until December 2025. Prior to this, he worked as a Post-Doc at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology from 2019 to 2021.

Repän earned his Doctoral Degree in Physics from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in 2019, with his dissertation titled 'Dark-field hyperlens: High-contrast subwavelength imaging in optics and acoustics' supervised by Andrei Lavrinenko and Morten Willatzen. He received his Master's Degree in Physics from the University of Tartu in 2014, with a thesis on 'Sub-wavelength imaging with hyperbolic metamaterials' supervised by Siim Pikker and Sergei Zhukovsky. His educational background also includes a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the University of Tartu (2009-2012).

His research focuses on computational photonics, metamaterials, inverse design, and the application of neural networks to optical simulations. He leads the project 'Inverse design methods for integrating nanophotonic structures with gas sensors' (2022-2026) and participates in several other research initiatives related to wood valorization and structural optimization. His work bridges theoretical physics, computational methods, and practical applications in optical sensing and imaging.

His publication record shows a consistent trajectory in computational photonics, with recent work heavily emphasizing the integration of machine learning techniques with electromagnetic simulations. The most recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on neural network applications for inverse design problems in nanophotonics, hyperbolic metamaterials, and plasmonic structures, indicating his leadership in applying AI to complex optical design challenges.

Repän currently leads or participates in multiple research projects funded by the Estonian Research Council and other institutions, demonstrating his active role in the research community. His work spans fundamental theoretical investigations to applied research with potential industrial applications.

His laboratory work appears to focus on computational modeling of photonic structures rather than experimental setups, with emphasis on numerical methods for designing and analyzing optical systems. His collaborations span multiple institutions across Europe, reflecting the international nature of his research.