Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Welcome to Laser Focus World’s Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast, produced by Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B. Here, we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of photonics and optics. With a legacy dating back to 1965, Laser Focus World has been a trusted source for comprehensive global coverage of technologies, applications, and markets in these dynamic fields. Following the Photons is an extension of that legacy.

This podcast — hosted by Justine Murphy, an editor with Laser Focus World and multimedia director of Endeavor Business Media’s Digital Infrastructure group — features interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in photonics, this podcast is your go-to resource for staying informed and inspired. Tune in and stay laser-focused on the future of light-based technologies.

Episodes

Nov 4, 2025

24 min

This week features a great interview with Dr. Tara Fortier, a project leader in the Time and Frequency Division at NIST, a role in which she oversees cutting-edge research in precision optical and microwave metrology, and laser source development.
She’s heavily involved in the scientific community via organizations like the American Physical Society and Optica, and active participation in outreach programs like SPIE’s Women in Optics.

Oct 28, 2025

15 min

This episode features Sargis Hakobyan, an R&D team leader with SPhotonix. He joined the company earlier this year to lead its new photonics lab in Switzerland, where he is the Senior Laser Materials Processing Engineer.
Sargis is a multilingual laser physicist who has long focused in solid-state femtosecond and semiconductor laser development.

Oct 21, 2025

16 min

In this second installment of a two-part episode, Metalenz CEO Rob Devlin talks about what the future holds for the company and the industry overall, and offers some advice for others looking to take a similar path.

Oct 14, 2025

17 min

In this first of a two-part series, host Justine Murphy talks with Rob Devlin, co-founder and CEO of Metalenz. He has a PhD in applied physics from Harvard University, where he worked closely with Federico Capasso. The two ultimately founded Metalenz to commercialize their breakthrough research in metasurface optics.

Oct 7, 2025

13 min

This episode features Mohamed Elsherif, postdoctoral associate whose research bridges bioelectronics, optics, and nanomaterials to develop innovative wearable and ingestible devices for healthcare. 

Sep 30, 2025

7 min

Here's another roundup of some of the most exciting news happening in the photonics industry!

Reshaping displays

Sep 23, 2025

Sep 23, 2025

20 min

This week features host Justine Murphy’s thought-provoking discussion with Ifor Samuel and Andrea Di Falco, both professors and researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Together, they're working to revolutionize the use of organic LEDs and metasurfaces in a plethora of applications.

Sep 16, 2025

16 min

Here is a great interview with Jeroen Hoet, co-founder and CEO of eyeo, a new Netherlands-based startup that's working to revolutionize imaging. 
 

Market Insights

Sep 9, 2025

Sep 9, 2025

7 min

In this edition of Following the Photons, host Justine Murphy delves into the market sector of one of the photonics industry, with statistics, projections, and expert insight.

Sep 2, 2025

6 min

This episode features a roundup of some of the most interesting news impacting the business sector of the photonics and optics industry, from company collaborations to funding awards and more.

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