Jan Lagerwall

Educator/Teacher, Event planner, Project manager, Scientist, World traveler

Jan Lagerwall was born in Göteborg, Sweden, where he also obtained his M.Sc. (Physics, 1997) and Ph.D. (Materials Science, 2002), both from Chalmers University of Technology. As a postdoctoral researcher he worked with N. A. Clark (CU Boulder), G. Heppke (TU- Berlin) and F. Giesselmann (U. Stuttgart). In 2007 he set up his first research group in materials physical chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, moving to South Korea and Seoul National University in 2010, where he set up a new group as part of an transdisciplinary graduate school. Since 2014 he is full professor in physics at the University of Luxembourg, leading the Experimental Soft Matter Physics group. His research focuses on soft matter physics, chemistry and materials science, revolving around liquid crystals but with many contact points with other fields, from fiber spinning and microfluidics to art, architecture and security. The driving force is a deep fascination and enthusiasm for the scientific beauty of the field as well as the diverse application possibilities arising through cross fertilization with other disciplines. Since 2015 he holds an ERC Consolidator Grant, working on a project that aims to demonstrate the potential to use liquid crystals in novel contexts, chiefly soft robotics, secure authentication and wearable technology. He was one of the main organizers of TEDxSNUSuwon at his previous university in South Korea, in 2013, and he is now the main organizer of a new event at his current University, University of Luxembourg, to take place in the fall of 2018.

science, teaching, guiding students and young researchers, connecting minds, solving problems, music, art, theatre, dance, ...

A true interdisciplinary mindset, including an open attitude and a great deal of curiosity, is the best way of solving the future problems of humanity, since the possibilities that open by connecting minds with different expertise and background are unlimited.

event management, interdisciplinary research, leadership, liquid crystals, materials science, mentoring, physics, presenting, soft matter, teaching, writing