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The job of a laser physicist
Laser physics studies, as the name suggests, lasers and their applications, be that in theoretical research, industry, biology, medicine, computer science, or other fields.
The field of laser physics started developing 60 years ago – and over this time lasers have permeated many areas of our lives. For instance, they are used in space radio communication, as well as in fiber-optic lines that bring internet to our homes. In medicine, lasers are used by surgeons, dentists, ophthalmologists, and other professionals.
According to a forecast up to the year 2028 by Mordor Intelligence, the market of industrial lasers is expected to annually grow by 7.1%. The demand for laser physicists is expected to plummet accordingly, as they are the ones who will service such systems, conduct research, and implement new technologies in industrial settings.
ITMO's Institute of Laser Technologies. Photo by ITMO.NEWS
Where to get such training in Russia
A total of 16 Russian universities offer programs in the field. At ITMO, they are implemented by the Institute of Laser Technologies headed by Vadim Veiko, one of the founding fathers of laser technologies as an educational program in Russia.
At ITMO, students in the field engage in both fundamental research and applied projects for the institute’s industrial partners – or even develop their own startups. Moreover, each student can build their own individual learning track, tailor-made for their interests. For instance, in response to a student demand, the institute launched research in art & science and started developing a laser brush.
Images on a metal plate created with the use of laser technology developed at ITMO. Photo by ITMO University 
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ITMO Scientists on Developing Laser Brush for Drawing on Metallic Surfaces
The Institute of Laser Technologies offers educational programs on all three levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD.
Bachelor’s program. Students of the Laser Technologies program can choose one of the four tracks for their studies: they can train as researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, or interdisciplinary artists.
In the first two years of their training, students explore the institute’s labs, receiving fundamental education in engineering, and in the following two – take specialized courses within their tracks. Additionally, students conduct research at ITMO’s labs, as well as with the institute’s partners, which allows them to get experience in handling laser equipment.
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Master’s program. On this level, students in laser technologies get a deeper understanding of their chosen subject within one of these specializations:
- Laser Micro- and Nanotechnologies: the physics and engineering of laser technologies, as well as their high-tech applications.
- Biomedical Laser Technologies: laser surgery, aesthetic medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, etc.
- Industrial Laser Technologies: real-world applied solutions developed as graduation theses in collaboration with students’ future employers.
PhD training. Master’s graduates can choose to pursue an academic career in one of the following fields: photonics, laser physics, optical and opto-electronic devices and complexes, and optics.
PhD students of the institute participate in grant projects together with their fellow students from the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs.
Job prospects
Graduates have ample opportunities, including building careers at major companies or as entrepreneurs. Among the potential employers are:
Leningrad Laser Systems, a company that develops laser-optic components and equipment, including pulsed, continuous wave, and gas lasers, for the industry or academia. Among its clients are government agencies, corporations, research institutions, universities, and private companies. The company is headed by an ITMO graduate, Nikita Burov, while several other graduates of the university lead its departments. Since 2019, Leningrad Laser Systems has been a resident of ITMO’s Technopark.
Nikita Burov, an ITMO graduate, the head of Leningrad Laser Systems. Photo by ITMO University
Laser Center is an enterprise that designs laser systems and implements cutting-edge laser technologies in different fields and for various applications, including engraving, marking, cutting, and welding. In collaboration with ITMO, Laser Center is working on equipment for processing medical implants. Oleg Vasilyev, an ITMO graduate, heads the company's AppLab department.
The processing of the surface of a dental implant secured inside the laser complex. Photo courtesy of the International Research Laboratory for Micro- and Nanotechnology Lasers
INSCIENCE is a company that develops modern electrooptical, laser, and fiber equipment for researchers all over Russia. Among the devices produced by the company are spectrometers, lasers, and THz equipment. One of their recent commissions is a system for a Venus rover. Anton Kiyan, an ITMO graduate, is an engineer at the firm.
