Karin Hinzer is a Canadian physicist who is a professor and Vice Dean for Research at the University of Ottawa. She holds a University Research Chair in Photonic Devices for Energy. Her research considers new strategies to harness solar energy.

Hinzer was born in Canada.^[1] She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Ottawa. Her master's research investigated semiconductor quantum dot lasers.^[2] Her early work considered the physics of quantum dots. She developed strategies to design and fabricate III-V multi-junction semiconductor devices at the National Research Council Canada.^[3]

In 2007, Hinzer joined the University of Ottawa, where she launched a lab that models and characterises next-generation solar cells. She established SUNLAB, the top solar cell research facility in Canada.^[4] She was appointed Tier II Canada Research Chair in Photonic Nanostructures and Integrated Devices, and worked alongside Morgan Solar to increase the efficiency of solar panels.^[3] Hinzer showed that semiconductor quantum dots could be used to capture the whole solar spectrum, which could be used in combination with solar concentrators.^[5] Working with the Université de Sherbrooke on a new strategy for high efficiency solar cells, which they achieved by reducing electrode-induced shadowing and size.^[6]

Hinzer is the Vice Dean for Research at the University of Ottawa. She is Editor of the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics.^{[citation needed]}

• 2010 Canadian Energy Award^[7][8]
• 2016 SPIE Women in Optcs Planner^[1]
• 2015 Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Award^[9]

• M. Bayer; G. Ortner; O. Stern; et al. (7 May 2002). "Fine structure of neutral and charged excitons in self-assembled In(Ga)As/(Al)GaAs quantum dots". Physical Review B. 65 (19). doi:10.1103/PHYSREVB.65.195315. ISSN 0163-1829. Wikidata Q59475971.
• Manfred Bayer; Hawrylak P; Hinzer K; Fafard S; Korkusinski M; Wasilewski ZR; Stern O; Alfred Forchel (1 January 2001). "Coupling and entangling of quantum states in quantum dot molecules". Science. 291 (5503): 451–453. doi:10.1126/SCIENCE.291.5503.451. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 11161192. Wikidata Q59476118.
• Fafard S; Hinzer K; Raymond S; Dion M; McCaffrey J; Feng Y; Charbonneau S (1 November 1996). "Red-Emitting Semiconductor Quantum Dot Lasers". Science. 274 (5291): 1350–1353. doi:10.1126/SCIENCE.274.5291.1350. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 8910269. Wikidata Q36831471.