The working group is expanding its research infrastructure for biophotonic applications.
The successful acquisition of numerous third-party funded projects and the steadily growing number of theses recently led to a significant increase in the number of employees in the Biophotonic Instrumentation Group at the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena. This also increased the demands on the infrastructure – but the existing space quickly reached its limits.
In particular, the laser protection room, measuring just 7.5 m², proved too small for the complex research work, such as the development of fiber optic probes. Therefore, an extensive renovation project was initiated: The former practical laboratory for biomedical engineering is being converted into a modern office and laboratory area. Plans include combining laboratory spaces, updating the practical content, and making structural changes such as demolishing and rebuilding a partition wall. This will allow the laser protection room to be expanded to approximately 23 m².
In addition, the electrical system will be reorganized, additional connections will be installed, and compressed air supplies will be added. Since the research activities involve the use of high-power lasers, comprehensive occupational safety measures are also required – from special laser safety circuits to minimizing potential exposure risks.
Despite the limited space, the expansion represents an important milestone for the research group: It creates significantly improved conditions for innovative research and lays the foundation for future developments in the field of biomedical optics.
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