Fatemeh Abbasi is a PhD student at Ghent University’s Department of Electronics and Information Systems, working within the Liquid Crystals and Photonics (LCP) group. Her research focuses on advanced photoalignment techniques for patterning liquid crystals to develop next-generation flat optical devices, such as diffraction gratings and lasers. With a background in physics, nanophysics, and a European Master of Science in Photonics, her fields of interest include photonics, liquid crystals, and soft matter. Outside of her research, Fatemeh enjoys hiking, stargazing, charity volunteering, and watercolor painting, balancing her scientific work with a love for nature and art.