PHOTCAST EP10 - Arash's Journey - Master Photonics

Welcome to Episode 10 of the PHOTCAST series — “Arash’s Journey”! In this episode, Sara sits down with Arash, a postdoctoral researcher at the Brussels Photonics Team (B-PHOT), to talk about his path from Iran to Belgium and the experiences that shaped him from photonics student to PhD researcher and beyond. Together, they explore how photonics can create real-world impact in healthcare: from fabricating nanostructures and using Raman spectroscopy, to building faster ways to identify bacteria — combining optical readouts with machine-learning classification. While conventional workflows can take 24–36 hours (or even longer) to get answers, the conversation dives into why speed matters and how research can move toward practical clinical and industrial solutions.Beyond the science, Arash shares the honest side of the journey: the ups and downs, what a “typical” postdoc life actually looks like, and the lessons he wishes he knew earlier — including advice for students considering studying abroad and navigating choices between academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.Timecodes:00:46 - Meet Arash (postdoc at B-PHOT)01:12 - Project overview question01:17 - Rapid bacterial sensing: why speed matters05:00 - Diagnosis timeline: bringing it under ~30 minutes05:25 - Beyond the lab: the PhD journey isn’t always smooth06:30 - Low moments: self-doubt & staying motivated08:39 - Best parts of the PhD: support, wins, learning12:31 - Growing as a researcher: resilience & soft skills15:27 - Academia vs industry: why stay in academia18:17 - Key skills gained (technical + soft)23:59 - Typical postdoc day (research, supervision, teaching)26:06 - Collaboration & networking: building opportunities29:31 - Explaining photonics to non-experts34:05 - Looking ahead: future plans & translating research to impact36:49 - Studying abroad: master’s applications & practical tips41:05 - Programme news + upcoming application period (Jan 2026)42:08 - AI & “vibe coding”: using tools to build faster45:01 - How to keep learning46:21 - Where to find Arash + final thoughts - arashfeizpour.comPHOTCAST is a podcast from students, with students, for students. We discuss every aspect of photonics & engineering, studying photonics in Belgium, student life, and future job perspectives. Want to know more? Visit our website: https://studyphotonics.com or https://b-phot.org The Master of Science in Photonics Engineering is an English-taught 2-year master programme (120 ECTS) leading to a joint degree from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University.