Monash physicist elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Professor Stefan Maier
Professor Stefan Maier from the Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, one of the nation’s highest honours for scientific achievement.
Professor Maier was among 26 of Australia’s leading scientists elected as Fellows in 2026 recognised for outstanding contributions to science and research.
An internationally renowned physicist, Professor Maier is recognised for pioneering research in nanophotonics, plasmonics and metamaterials, fields that manipulate light at the nanoscale and are helping drive breakthroughs in next-generation communications, sensing, energy systems and optical computing.
Professor Maier joined Monash University in 2022 as Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy following senior academic leadership roles at Imperial College London and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He completed his PhD in Applied Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and has built an international reputation for research that bridges fundamental physics and real-world technological applications of nanophotonics.
Professor Maier said he was delighted to be elected a Fellow of the Academy.
“I am deeply honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science,” Professor Maier said.
“This recognition reflects the outstanding students and junior researchers I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career, including here at Monash.”
“Nanophotonics research is opening extraordinary opportunities in areas ranging from sustainable energy conversion to quantum technologies and advanced computing, and I’m excited to continue building those capabilities at Monash and in Australia.”
Professor Maier’s research has helped shape the global field of plasmonics and nanophotonics, including advances in controlling and concentrating light at dimensions far below conventional optical limits. His work has applications in ultra-fast computing, nanoscale imaging, advanced sensing technologies and future photonic devices.
He is also a Fellow of multiple international scientific societies and has received numerous prestigious honours during his career, including the Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences and the Institute of Physics Paterson Medal.
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