Speaker
Description
This talk presents a personal career pathway in applied research and industrial collaboration in the field of micro- and nanostructuring technologies. Ursula Palfinger began studying experimental physics at the Karl Franzens University Graz in 1998, later specializing in nanotechnology. An early opportunity to work in an industry-funded diploma project – on the microstructuring of optical elements via imprint lithography - sparked her long-term interest in applied physics and technology transfer.
Continuing along this path, she joined a European research project on printed electronics and completed her PhD in collaboration with JOANNEUM RESEARCH (JR). Her research focused on organic thin-film transistors, enhancing their electrical performance using nanoscale patterning. During this time, she gained extensive experience in structuring polymeric materials through both thermal (hot embossing) and UV-based imprint techniques, the latter offering distinct advantages in terms of process conditions and material multifunctionality.
As micro- and nanoimprint technologies matured, new application areas emerged, including freeform optics, microfluidics, and bio-inspired (bionic) surfaces. In response to the growing demand for large-scale manufacturing, her work contributed to the transition from small-scale laboratory processes to roll-to-roll (R2R) UV imprinting with meters-per-minute throughput. In this context, JR (Institute MATERIALS in Weiz) established Europe’s first research pilot line for continuous large-area thermal and UV imprinting in 2010, enabling scalable prototyping and production of functional micro- and nanostructures.
A key technological challenge in R2R processing is the fabrication of large flexible tools used as imprint stamps, which led to the implementation of step-and-repeat type upscaling approaches. Ursula Palfinger has been technically responsible for this development and currently leads national and international research projects in this field.
The presentation will provide insights into selected applications and industry projects, highlighting both the scientific and practical aspects of this work. It aims to illustrate career opportunities available to physicists beyond academia, particularly at the interface of research, technology development, and industrial innovation.