Malte Gather

Professor Malte Gather is a distinguished academic at the University of St Andrews, holding a position in the School of Physics and Astronomy. He maintains multiple significant affiliations including the Sir James Mackenzie Institute for Early Diagnosis, Centre for Biophotonics, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences, and Organic Semiconductor Centre. His research spans the intersection of physics, biology, and engineering, focusing on innovative optical technologies with biomedical applications.

Professor Gather's research interests encompass three primary domains: Biophotonics & biophysics (bio-derived optical structures, biological lasers, cellular biomechanics, and nanophotonic biosensors); Organic electronics / OLEDs (nano/micro-patterning of organic semiconductors, OLED optics, and organic electronics for lab-on-chip systems); and Plasmonics (plasmonic lasers, molecular plasmonics, and plasmonic sensors). His work demonstrates a consistent focus on developing novel optical tools for biological investigation and medical applications.

Analysis of Professor Gather's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward biomedical applications of photonic technologies, particularly in cellular mechanics, kidney disease research, and neural interfaces. His work bridges fundamental physics with practical medical solutions, often involving interdisciplinary collaborations between physicists, biologists, and medical researchers. The research increasingly focuses on translational applications with potential clinical impact.

• 2016 Paterson Medal and prize of the Institute of Physics

Professor Gather actively supervises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with recent thesis projects focusing on high-efficiency OLEDs for optogenetics and biophotonic tools for cellular mechanics imaging. His research is supported by significant grants including the TRACER project (EPSRC), IBIS project, and multiple BBSRC-funded initiatives. He leads the Gather Lab, which maintains a strong focus on developing innovative optical technologies with biomedical applications, particularly in the areas of biological lasers, cellular biomechanics, and organic optoelectronics for medical devices.