Ognjen Ilic

Ognjen Ilic is the Benjamin Mayhugh Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, with graduate faculty appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the School of Physics and Astronomy. His work focuses on nanophotonics, optomechanics, and metamaterials for energy, sensing, and space applications.

• Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
• Departments: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Research Areas: Radiative energy transfer, light-matter interactions, thermal management, and photonic levitation

His recent research explores nanophotonic materials for space propulsion, including light sails and self-stabilizing systems, as well as contactless manipulation using sound and light. Publications highlight innovations in radiative cooling, incandescent efficiency, and energy conversion.

Scientific awards include recognition as a Top 25 Physics Article of 2022 (Nature Communications). His team at the Laboratory for Nano Optics & Mechanics develops technologies at the intersection of nanofabrication and computational design, collaborating with institutions like Caltech and MIT.