On October 28, Ivana Gasulla, a research professor at Campus Gandia of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and an entrepreneur, was honored as one of the top 100 global leaders in the field of photonics. Electro Optics magazine, one of the most influential international publications in the field, featured her in the latest edition of The Photonics100.
Each year, this ranking recognizes 100 globally renowned scientists, engineers, and business leaders whose work is driving transformation in sectors such as aerospace, telecommunications, and quantum technologies, among others. Among these distinguished individuals is Ivana Gasulla.
Reflecting on the honor, Ivana remarked that being included in The Photonics100 is a meaningful acknowledgment of her research group’s work in two highly impactful areas: spatially multiplexed optical fibers “More than just a personal achievement, this recognition underscores the collective effort of an outstanding team of researchers who work alongside me at the Photonics Research Labs of the iTEAM Institute and the UPV spin-off, iPronics Programmable Photonics,” she adds.
Her day-to-day, like so many others in the province of Valencia, changed drastically just hours after receiving her recognition. Ivana Gasulla, a lifelong resident of Benetússer where she was born and still resides, is now focused on helping restore normalcy to both her community and her research. Photonic circuits, optical fibers, and hours spent studying and reflecting to prepare her next publication were suddenly replaced by shovels, buckets, rubber boots, and countless hours of clearing water, mud, and damaged furniture.
“Photonic Technology to Prevent Disasters Like This”
“In a single day, our lives changed in ways we could never have imagined. These past weeks have been a stark contrast, where priorities have shifted dramatically. While we are slowly working towards normalcy, we know that months of effort and solidarity lie ahead to help the affected areas recover the life that was abruptly halted on October 29th. Looking at the thousands of Valencian businesses and small companies that may never recover, I feel fortunate that our work at UPV can continue. This tragedy has also led me to reflect on how our research in photonic technologies can contribute to preventing such disasters in the future. For instance, fiber optic systems could be used to monitor the condition of civil infrastructure or river flows. Additionally, these technologies can play a crucial role in rebuilding damaged telecommunications networks and providing essential services to affected areas,” reflects Ivana Gasulla.
Key Research for AI Data Centers
In the short and medium term, Ivana states that her primary focus is on advancing the integration and parallelization of systems. This includes developing distribution networks for next-generation optical fibers and enhancing signal processing through integrated programmable photonics. “Our research spans a broad range of fields and, in the current landscape, is particularly relevant to the data centers and server infrastructures that underpin artificial intelligence. The goal is to enhance transmission capacity and flexibility, while minimizing latency and energy consumption,” says the UPV researcher.
“This recognition gives us the drive to keep pushing forward in our mission to explore new frontiers in photonic research, with the aim of creating a positive impact on society,” says Ivana Gasulla from her home in Benetússer. While her community slowly returns to normal, a process that will take time, the mud still intertwines with optical fibers and microchips.
About Ivana Gasulla Mestre
Ivana Gasulla Mestre is a researcher in the Photonics Research Labs (PRL) group of the iTEAM Institute and a professor at Campus Gandia of the UPV. Her research primarily focuses on microwave and optical signal processing, as well as innovative multicore and few-mode optical fiber architectures. She has authored over 150 international publications, many of which have appeared in high-impact journals like Nature Communications and Nature Photonics. She was awarded a prestigious European Research Council Consolidator Grants. She is currently the Deputy Director of Economics at the iTEAM Research Institute and serves as Senior Editor for the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, among other roles.
As an entrepreneur, she is the co-founder of the UPV spin-off iPronics Programmable Photonics, which was recognized by Nature in 2020 as one of the 32 best spin-offs to watch worldwide.
Source: Luis Zurano Conches, UPV Office of Communication