Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator Series: Dr Julianna Panidi, University of Edinburgh, UK

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Abstract

Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career researchers working in the field of materials science.

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Julianna Panidi (DOI: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3701-1857) joined the Plastic Electronics CDT at Imperial in 2016 under the guidance of Prof. Thomas Anthopoulos and obtained her PhD in 2020. Following a post-doctoral research position at the University of Southampton, she obtained an EPSRC David Clarke Fellowship, which she conducted in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London. Since 2024, she has been an independent researcher as a Chancellor's Fellow in Climate Change and Sustainability in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. Her research interests are in developing eco-friendly solution-processed electronics with a focus on solar cells and thin film transistors.

Read Julianna Panidi's Emerging Investigator Series article ‘Novel ambipolar polymers for detection beyond 1000 nm with organic phototransistors’ ( https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH01486G ) and read more about her in the interview below:

MH: Your recent Materials Horizons Communication demonstrates new, high-performing, ambipolar NIR phototransistors through tuning the number of fused thiophene rings in donor–acceptor conjugated polymers. How has your research evolved from your first article to this most recent article and where do you see your research going in future?

JP: My first research article focused on enhancing charge carrier transport in organic thin-film transistors through molecular doping—a project I could not have accomplished without the generous guidance of the PhD students and postdocs in my group at the time. Since then, my research has evolved from understanding fundamental charge transport mechanisms to developing functional devices such as phototransistors and sensors. Now, I find it deeply rewarding to help my own students publish their first papers, particularly as we explore using organic transistors as photodetectors.

MH: What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?

JP: I am most excited about collaborating across disciplines—working with chemists, physicists, and engineers to combine expertise in materials design, device physics, and sustainable processing. These collaborations often spark new ideas and lead to innovations that would not be possible within a single field.

MH: In your opinion, what are the most important questions to be asked/answered in this field of research?

JP: A key question driving my work is: Can we achieve high-performing yet sustainable electronics? The challenge is to develop materials and device architectures that maintain excellent performance while being environmentally responsible.

MH: What do you find most challenging about your research?

JP: One of the biggest challenges in my research is communicating effectively across disciplines. Bridging different scientific languages and perspectives takes time, but it's essential for genuine innovation. When it works, the results are incredibly rewarding.

MH: In which upcoming conferences or events may our readers meet you?

JP: I will be attending the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) Meeting in Strasbourg, where I look forward to sharing our latest work and meeting fellow researchers in the field.

MH: How do you spend your spare time?

JP: I enjoy exploring new places, cooking, and going to the gym.

MH: Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other early career scientists?

JP: Build a strong network of mentors and peers who can support you along the way. Having people you can turn to for advice, encouragement, and honest feedback makes an enormous difference—especially during the early, uncertain stages of an academic career.

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