Stefano Palomba

Associate Professor Stefano Palomba is an experimental physicist specializing in nanophotonics and nanoplasmonics at The University of Sydney's School of Physics. He leads the Nanophotonics and Plasmonics Advancement Lab (NPAL) and serves as Deputy Director of the Institute of Photonics and Optical Science. His research focuses on developing next-generation integrated optical devices, leveraging advanced facilities like femtosecond-OPO lasers and near-field scanning optical microscopes. He is a domain leader in Sydney Nano and a member of the Net Zero Institute.

His work bridges fundamental physics and applied technologies, with emphasis on nonlinear optics, plasmonic nanostructures, and biomedical applications of nanomaterials. Notable contributions include innovations in hybrid plasmonic circuits, carbon dot-based biosensors, and nanolasers for compact optical systems. Palomba has secured significant grants, including a 2022 NHMRC Ideas Grant for neurophotonics research and a 2024 grant for mobile optical sensing platforms.

His lab's modular approach to plasmonic systems enables scalable solutions for telecommunications and healthcare. Recent projects include direct growth of MoS₂ monolayers on silicon waveguides and breakthroughs in sub-Poissonian photon emission using hexagonal boron nitride. Palomba collaborates internationally, advancing photonics applications in quantum technologies and environmental sensing.

Grants include $23M+ for innovative health research (2022) and $31M+ for interdisciplinary photonics projects (2016). His publications span high-impact journals like Nanophotonics and Nanoscale Advances, reflecting contributions across plasmonics, nonlinear optics, and bio-nanotechnology.