Martijn de Sterke

Professor Martijn de Sterke is a Professor in the School of Physics, Faculty of Science, at the University of Sydney, and is affiliated with the Institute of Photonics and Optical Science. He earned his MEng in Applied Physics from the University of Delft, Netherlands, in 1982, and his PhD in Optics from the University of Rochester, USA, between 1983 and 1987. After completing postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto from 1988 to 1990, he joined the University of Sydney in 1991, progressing to a full professorship. Previously, he served as Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Science. His research specializes in photonics and optics, encompassing nonlinear optics, guided wave optics, periodic media, random media, and aspects of condensed matter physics. Professor de Sterke has authored over 300 journal papers, accumulating more than 21,000 citations according to Google Scholar. Key publications include 'Multipole method for microstructured optical fibers. I. Formulation' (2002, Optics Letters), 'Bragg grating solitons' (1996, Physical Review E), 'A 90-nm-thick graphene metamaterial for strong and extremely broadband absorption of unpolarized light' (2019, Nature Communications), 'Multipole method for microstructured optical fibers II: implementation and results' (2002), and 'Microstructured polymer optical fibre' (2001).

Professor de Sterke's contributions have been recognized with major awards, including the Pawsey Medal from the Australian Academy of Sciences in 1999, Fellowship of Optica in 2002, the Esther Hoffman Beller Medal in 2017 for excellence in optics education, PhD advising, and outreach, and the W.H. (Beattie) Steel Medal in 2024. He served as Editor-in-Chief of Optics Express from 2007 to 2012, contributing significantly to the field through editorial leadership. He has supervised numerous postgraduate students who have excelled in academia and industry, and has been actively involved in teaching, high school outreach, and public engagement. His work has influenced advancements in optical microcombs, soliton physics, and metamaterials, as evidenced by his roles in ARC Centres of Excellence such as CUDOS and COMBS, and leadership in IPOS.

Professional Email: martijn.desterke@sydney.edu.au