WQCES-2026

Emre Ozan Polat is an assistant professor at Physics Department and National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) of Bilkent University. He works on quantum material integrated sensor and energy systems yielding quantum photonic applications for humanitarian technologies. His PhD research reports on the development of graphene-based photonic and optoelectronic devices that can operate in broadband spectrum. After PhD, he obtained Marie Curie and EU fellowships to join University of Glasgow, (UK) and ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences (Spain), where he developed quantum material integrated wearables and imaging technologies. Managing numerous national and international projects, Polat leads a research ecosystem, Bilkent NanoLab, consisting of postdoctoral researchers, graduate, and undergraduate students. He has published international articles in high-impact journals such as Science Advances, ACS Photonics, and Nature Communications, and as of December 2025, he has received more than 3,000 citations (h-index = 17). He is the author of 30+ high impact publications, book chapters, and patent applications. He is awarded "TUBA- GEBIP 2025 Outstanding Young Scientist" of Turkish Academy of Sciences, "Parlar Research Incentive Award 2024" of METU Parlar Foundation, ''BAGEP 2021 Physics Award'' of Science Academy, "Innovator of The Year" of Spanish Foundation of Science and Technology (2017), Silver Leaf Award” of IEEE Prime (2015) and "Young Scientist Award” of European Material Research Society (E-MRS) (2014).