Marcello Ferrera

Dr. Marcello Ferrera is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences and a member of the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences at Heriot-Watt University. His research focuses on nanophotonics and quantum optics, particularly exploring novel materials like transparent conducting oxides and epsilon-near-zero materials for advanced photonic devices. He leads the ASN research group, emphasizing numerical modeling, fabrication, and characterization of photonic components.

Education: Master's in Micro-Electronic Engineering (2005, University of Palermo) followed by PhD studies at INRS-EMT (Canada) and postdoctoral work at the University of St Andrews (UK) and Purdue University (USA). Notable fellowships include the FQRNT doctoral fellowship (2007) and Marie-Curie IOF fellowship (2012).

Research Interests: Engineering meta-atoms for nanoscale light-matter interaction, high-harmonic generation, nonlinear frequency conversion, and ultrafast optical processes. Key applications include invisibility cloaking, quantum computing, and energy-efficient photonics.

Recent Work Trends: Focused on time-varying media effects, spatio-spectral optical fission, and low-index thin film engineering. Over 78 publications since 2008, with 9 datasets archived. Active collaborations in North America, Europe, and Asia.

• Awards: FQRNT Doctoral Fellowship, Marie-Curie IOF Fellowship
• Grants: Supported by EU, UK Research Councils, and industrial partnerships
• Labs: ASN Group (http://www.asn-lab.org)