Professor Jiří Homola is a globally recognized authority in biophotonics and optical sensing technologies with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. He currently serves as Director of the Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, a position he has held since 2012, and maintains professorships at both Charles University and the Czech Technical University in Prague. After completing his MSc in Physical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in 1988, he earned his PhD from the Czech Academy of Sciences in 1993, establishing the foundation for his pioneering research in optical biosensors. His professional journey includes significant research periods at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he served as Research Associate Professor before returning to Prague in 2003 to lead the optical biosensors research program at his current institution.
Professor Homola's groundbreaking research has positioned him as an international leader in developing advanced optical biosensor technologies, with particular expertise in surface plasmon resonance and photonic sensing platforms for biomedical applications. His scientific contributions encompass over 170 peer-reviewed publications that have accumulated more than 36,000 citations, demonstrating the substantial impact of his work across the global scientific community. He has pioneered the development of innovative sensor instrumentation, microfluidic devices, and functional coatings that enable precise molecular detection for critical applications in medical diagnostics, food safety, and security monitoring. His research has resulted in 11 patents and has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Roche Prize for Sensor Technology, while his practical sensor solutions have translated into real-world diagnostic tools addressing pressing healthcare challenges.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Homola has cultivated extensive collaborative networks spanning both Czech institutions and international partners, including the University of Washington, University of Oulu, and numerous Czech academic centers. He currently coordinates the Nanobiophotonics for future health care center of excellence, driving interdisciplinary research that bridges photonics, nanotechnology, and biomedical applications to advance healthcare solutions. As an associate editor of the prominent journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics and through his teaching positions at leading academic institutions, he significantly shapes the direction of research in his field while mentoring the next generation of scientists. His ongoing work continues to push the boundaries of biosensor technology with current research focusing on developing advanced diagnostic platforms that promise to transform personalized medicine and point-of-care testing through innovative photonics solutions.
