Karin Hinzer was awarded BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in physics from the University of Ottawa in 1996, 1998, and 2002, respectively. At the University of Ottawa, she is vice-dean, Research of the Faculty of Engineering as well as a professor at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with cross-appointment to the Department of Physics. She holds the University Research Chair in Photonic Devices for Energy and has made pioneering contributions to the experimental physics of quantum dots. She gained extensive experience in the design and fabrication of group III-V semiconductor devices while at the National Research Council Canada, Nortel Networks and then Bookham (now Lumentum).
Professor Hinzer’s research involves developing new techniques and systems for photonics and semiconductor applications. In 2007, she joined the University of Ottawa to found SUNLAB, the premier Canadian modelling and characterization laboratory for next-generation optoelectronic devices and photovoltaic systems. From 2007 to 2017, she was the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Photonic Nanostructures and Integrated Devices. In 2010, she and industry partner Morgan Solar received the inaugural Canadian Energy Award for their development of more efficient solar panels. In 2015, she received the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Award for her contributions to the fields of photonic devices and photovoltaic systems, and in 2016, she received the University of Ottawa Young Researcher Award. She is an IEEE senior member and was a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada from 2015 to 2022. Professor Hinzer was the principal investigator of a Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program sponsored by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, titled “Training in Optoelectronics for Power: from Science and Engineering to Technology” (NSERC CREATE TOP-SET, 2017-2024), a multi-disciplinary training program that involved three universities and trained 169 students and postdoctoral fellows.
Professor Hinzer is an editor of the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. She has published over 230 refereed papers, trained over 210 highly-qualified personnel, and her laboratory has spun off three Canadian energy sector companies. Her current research interests include new materials, high-efficiency light sources and light detectors, solar cells, solar modules, new electrical grid architectures and power converters.