The international OPTO conference, organized by the L2n laboratory and the NANO-PHOT Graduate School (EUR), took place from July 10 to 14, 2024, at the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT). It was opened by the President of the IEEE Photonics Society, Professor Perry SHUM:
🔗 https://nano-phot.utt.fr/news/nano-phot-has-sponsored-a-new-international-workshop-on-optoelectronics

Following this conference, fifteen NANO-PHOT PhD and Master’s students — including Minyu CHEN, Shengwen DI, Fusheng DU, Antoine ELIE, Nehemie Ezechiel DJINY, Surena FATEMI, Margaux GAILLARD, Roy KONNOTH ANCEL, Kevin KIM, Theo MINCHELLA, Julian SIERRA, Juan XIN, Nurzad ZAKIROV, Guanghan ZHANG, and Yuqing ZHAO — initiated the creation of the IEEE UTT Student Branch. This is the first-ever IEEE student branch in the Grand Est region.

Alongside institutions such as École Polytechnique, the University of Bordeaux, the University of Toulouse, and the University of Lille, the UTT branch is now listed among the leading IEEE student branches in France:
🔗 https://studentbranches.ieee.org/fr-utt

Every year, IEEE will provide up to €5,000 in financial support to fund student-led activities at UTT.

The IEEE Student Branch at UTT is now officially established! Since April 2025, NANO-PHOT and L2n have proudly hosted this student chapter, officially recognized by IEEE — marking a major milestone in supporting student-led excellence in (nano)photonics and optoelectronics.

This branch was founded with the support of the EUR NANO-PHOT and the Light, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies Laboratory (L2n, CNRS UMR 7076). It is rooted in strong academic and research foundations, offering a highly interdisciplinary, international, and innovation-driven environment.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to technological advancement for the benefit of humanity. Membership grants students access to a global network of experts in photonics, electronics, quantum technologies, and beyond.

Through this newly formed branch, NANO-PHOT and L2n students can now benefit from:

  • A platform for student-led scientific and educational activities, including seminars, workshops, and outreach initiatives;
  • Access to international conferences, funding opportunities, and IEEE programs;
  • Connections to global research communities, encouraging transcontinental and interdisciplinary collaborations;
  • Support for professional and academic development, thanks to IEEE’s global visibility and resources.

NANO-PHOT and L2n are now proud academic homes of this new IEEE Student Branch. Together, and with all UTT contributors who wish to get involved, we aim to foster a vibrant student community that combines science, innovation, and collaboration in the exciting field of nanophotonics.