Sergei Popov

Sergei Popov is a Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, affiliated with the department of LJUS OCH MATERIENS FYSIK within the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). He holds an interdisciplinary research role focusing on photonics, optical communications, and materials science. His academic journey includes a PhD in Applied Physics from Helsinki University of Technology (1998) and extensive industry experience at Ericsson Telecom AB and Acreo AB before joining KTH in 1999. He has held visiting professorships at institutions like École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Zhejiang University, University of Tokyo, and ETH Zurich.

His research interests span nano-photonics, nano-plasmonics, high-capacity optical communication systems, and novel optical materials, with particular emphasis on transparent wood composites and terahertz communications. He has authored/co-authored over 300 journal papers and holds 11 patents. Notable contributions include advancements in free-space optical transmission, quantum cascade lasers, and deep learning applications in optical systems.

Popov has received the OSA (Optica) Fellow award and actively contributes to editorial boards of journals like the Journal of the European Optical Society and Applied Sciences. He has organized major conferences such as the Northern Optics and Photonics (NOP 2015) and chaired the OSA David Richardson Medal Committee (2014–2015).

His teaching includes roles as examiner and instructor in courses like Fiber-Optic Communication and Electromagnetism and Waves, reflecting his commitment to both research and education. Current research explores interdisciplinary applications of photonics and materials science, addressing challenges in high-speed data transmission and sustainable optical materials.