Bodo Wilts

Bodo Wilts is a Professor at the University of Salzburg in the Chemistry and Physics of Materials department. His research focuses on biophotonics, structural color, and photonic nanostructures in biological systems, particularly insects and beetles.

Education

• Habilitation in Physics, University of Freiburg (2020)
• PhD in Physics, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (2013)
• Diploma in Physics, University of Göttingen (2009)

Research Trends

Wilts’s recent publications highlight interdisciplinary work bridging biological optics, nanotechnology, and biomimetic materials. Key themes include:

• Photonic networks in insects (disordered vs. ordered structures)
• Self-assembly of block copolymers for advanced materials
• Applications of structural coloration in diagnostics and sensing
• 3D imaging of photonic nanostructures using X-ray tomography

Projects

• Ra-Dia-M (2025–2026): Label-free SERS diagnostics for melanoma cells
• Unraveling butterfly scale morphogenesis (2022–2026): Genetics and biomechanics of butterfly scales
• High-aspect ratio optical structures (2024–2025): Simulation and characterization of optical metamaterials

Activities

• Keynote on Dis/ordered photonic networks in insects (2024)
• Lectures on Multifunctional colors and nanostructure formation (2024)
• Presentations on Amorphous photonic networks (2023–2024)