Karl Bertling

Dr. Karl Bertling is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at the University of Queensland. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics, a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical Engineering, a Masters (Research) of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland. His doctoral research, completed in 2012, centered on microwave characterisation and parameters extraction of silicon-on-sapphire MOSFETs for device and circuit modelling. Earlier, his MPhil investigated the use of lasers for the cultivation of photosynthetic bacteria.

Dr. Bertling has pioneered imaging and sensing applications using laser feedback interferometry across various laser technologies, including visible lasers, infrared surface-emitting lasers, mid-infrared interband cascade lasers, and terahertz quantum cascade lasers. His research encompasses terahertz quantum cascade laser feedback interferometry for early melanoma detection and agri-photonics, as well as near-field terahertz and mid-infrared imaging of nanomaterials and nanostructures. Active projects include the ARC-funded Terahertz technology for cultural heritage testing: a Taj Mahal case study (2026–2029), Terahertz virtual skin biopsy: Quantum cascade laser imaging of early melanoma (2025–2026), and Interaction of light with tissues: A hyper-spectral approach (2021–2024). He has contributed to advancements in ultrasound visualization in solids via laser feedback interferometry, coherent terahertz imaging, and self-mixing effects in quantum cascade lasers. Notable publications include 'Terahertz nanoscopy: advances, challenges, and the road ahead' (Applied Physics Reviews, 2024), 'Terahertz in vivo imaging of human skin: toward detection of abnormal skin pathologies' (APL Bioengineering, 2024), 'Ultrasound in solids: how to use laser feedback interferometry to visualize elastic waves' (Optics Express, 2023), 'Sensing and imaging using laser feedback interferometry with quantum cascade lasers' (Applied Physics Reviews, 2019), and the tutorial 'Laser feedback interferometry: a tutorial on the self-mixing effect for coherent sensing' (Advances in Optics and Photonics, 2015). His work is cited over 3,000 times according to Google Scholar.

Professional Email: bertling@eecs.uq.edu.au