Franz X. Kärtner

Interim Director Photon Science

Prof. Dr. Franz X. Kärtner researched and lectured at the Technische Universität München (TUM), ETH Zürich, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before he became a lead scientist at DESY at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) in 2011, when he also took position as head of the department for Ultrafast Optics and X-rays physics.

His work in Ultrafast Optics physics as well as his achievements as a founder of a deep-tech start up were rewarded with the IEEE Laser Instrumentation Award in 2022 and in 2023 with the UNIPRENEUR award.
Prof. Dr. Franz X. Kärtner is a Fellow at OPTICA and IEEE and Interim Director Photon Science Division at DESY since January 2024.