Iris Niehues

Dr. Iris Niehues is an Assistant Professor leading the Quantum Nanophotonics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Münster. Her research, funded by the NRW Rückkehrprogramm Quantentechnologie, focuses on nanoscale optical properties of 2D materials and single-photon emitters for quantum technology applications. She utilizes advanced near-field microscopy techniques (s-SNOM, nano-FTIR) to achieve sub-diffraction-limit resolution.

Research Focus

Her group investigates:

• Nanoscale exciton and color center behavior in 2D materials
• Strain engineering of quantum emitters
• Development of near-field microscopy methodologies
• Quantum light-matter interactions

Publication Trends

Her recent work emphasizes nanoscale optical characterization, with publications covering:

• Tip-enhanced spectroscopy of 2D heterostructures (2023-2025)
• Strain manipulation of quantum materials (2019-2024)
• Advanced near-field imaging techniques (2020-2025)
• Excitonic phenomena in atomically thin semiconductors (2019-2025)

Academic Activities

She supervises PhD candidates (Johannes Holters, Dennis Mors, Maximilian Scharpey) and Bachelor students (Niklas Ohler, Simone Wessel). Her laboratory features a state-of-the-art neascope setup for nanoscale optical investigations. She teaches graduate courses on nanophotonics and near-field optics, and actively engages in science outreach through initiatives like the Kids University Münster.