Liss V. Rodriguez

Liss V. Rodriguez is a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) and an affiliated researcher at CERN, where she leads the Laboratory for Laser Induced Atomic Fluorescence and ionization (LIAF). She holds a W2 position within the Max-Planck Society, directing an independent research group focused on advancing collinear laser spectroscopy techniques to study exotic, short-lived radioactive nuclei. Her work is central to the COLLAPS collaboration at CERN’s ISOLDE facility, where she serves as spokesperson or co-spokesperson for multiple high-impact experiments.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, University of Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France (2015–2018)
• Licenciado (Master's equivalent) in Nuclear Physics, InSTEC, Havana, Cuba (2007–2012), First Class Honours
• Bachelor, Vocational Pre-University Institute of Exact Sciences, Matanzas, Cuba (2004–2007)

Her research interests lie at the frontier of nuclear structure physics, particularly in probing the limits of nuclear existence using high-precision laser spectroscopy. She investigates nuclear spins, electromagnetic moments, and charge radii to uncover emergent patterns in complex nuclei far from stability. Her work addresses fundamental questions about nuclear matter and the origin of nuclear phenomena. She has developed and applied advanced spectroscopic techniques at major international facilities, contributing significantly to our understanding of nuclear structure evolution across isotopic chains.

The most recent publications reflect a strong focus on high-resolution laser spectroscopy of neutron-rich and neutron-deficient isotopes of elements like scandium, germanium, nickel, antimony, aluminum, and tin. These studies reveal trends in charge radii, electromagnetic moments, and shell structure, often highlighting deviations from expected behavior near magic numbers. The work combines experimental precision with theoretical insights, contributing to broader fields such as nuclear astrophysics and fundamental symmetries.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellowship at CERN (2020)
• Best Poster Award, ISOLDE Workshop (2017)
• Best Poster Award, 20th Colloque GANIL (2017)
• CNRS Doctoral Grant (2015)
• First Class Honours, 'Título de Oro', InSTEC (2012)

Liss V. Rodriguez actively mentors the next generation of physicists, currently supervising 3 PhD students and 3 undergraduate students. Her leadership extends to institutional roles, including serving on the Jyväskylä Program Advisory Committee and organizing seminars and workshops. She has secured significant research opportunities through her roles as spokesperson for multiple CERN ISOLDE experiments, demonstrating her ability to lead large-scale collaborative projects. Her career progression—from doctoral researcher to CERN Research Fellow to independent group leader—reflects sustained excellence and growing influence in the field of experimental nuclear physics.

She is involved in several key teams and laboratories: leading the LIAF group, coordinating the COLLAPS experiment at CERN as local team leader since 2018, and participating in major collaborations including ISOLDE and NUSTAR. Her work integrates closely with theoretical efforts to interpret nuclear data and refine models of nuclear structure.