Peter Flauger is a researcher at the University of Vienna affiliated with the interdisciplinary Research Platform MMM (Mathematics-Magnetism-Materials) at Kolingasse 14-16, Vienna. His work bridges computational physics and materials engineering with focus on magnetic phenomena and nanoscale device applications. His research spans Condensed Matter Physics , Computational Magnetism , and Spintronics , employing advanced simulation techniques to model magnetic tunnel junctions, surface acoustic waves, and polaron effects. Key methodologies include finite-difference micromagnetic modeling, inverse problem solving, and coupled transport simulations. Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal strong emphasis on programmable magnetic devices and computational frameworks for spintronic systems, with significant contributions to open-source tools like NeuralMag for inverse micromagnetics. The work demonstrates consistent progression from fundamental magnetic phenomena to applied device engineering. Dr. Flauger actively contributes to the MMM research platform, fostering collaborations between mathematics, magnetism, and materials science at the University of Vienna through computational modeling and device-oriented research.
Katalin Kamarás is a Research Professor at the Research Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics in Budapest, Hungary. She has held tenured positions since 1992, including Senior Research Scientist and Senior Research Advisor roles. Her career includes international fellowships at institutions such as the Max-Planck-Institut in Germany and the University of Pittsburgh in the US. Education: She earned a Diploma in Chemistry (1976) and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (1979) from Loránd Eötvös University. She holds advanced degrees including a Doctor of Science (1996) and Habilitation (2000). Notably elected as a Corresponding Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2010. Research focuses on infrared spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes, supramolecular structures, and high-temperature superconductors. Key contributions include studies on electronic and phonon contributions in superconductors' infrared spectra, and optical properties of novel materials like organic conductors and fullerenes. Scientific recognition includes the 2002 Hungarian Academy of Sciences Physics Prize and multiple early-career awards. Her work has led to impactful publications in Science and Nature Communications .
Kerstin Hummer is an Associate Professor in Computational Materials Physics at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Physics. She leads research on ab-initio modeling of materials using density functional theory (DFT) and advanced computational methods, with applications in photocatalysis, exciton dynamics, and bandgap engineering. Her group investigates low-dimensional materials like transition metal dichalcogenides and semiconductor alloys, focusing on electronic, optical, and vibrational properties. Recent work includes neural network potentials for simulating ion diffusion in telluride materials and spectroscopic analysis of copper-zeolite catalysts. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on improving DFT methods through hybrid functionals, with applications spanning ZnO semiconductors, III-V compounds, and organic molecular crystals. Her teaching includes courses on scientific computing and light-matter interaction. Awards include the L'ORÉAL 'For Women in Science' fellowship and AT&S Research Grant for innovations in materials modeling.
Claudia Draxl is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Physics Department of Humboldt University of Berlin and a Corresponding Member of the Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences since 2018. Her work bridges quantum-mechanical simulations , data-centric approaches , and materials discovery . Fields of Interest : Theoretical and Computational Materials Science, Solid-State Physics, FAIR Data Principles, Many-body Perturbation Theory, Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Systems, Electron-Phonon Coupling Projects : Leads the NOMAD Laboratory and co-developed the exciting code , focusing on materials databases , high-throughput workflows , and data-driven discovery . Her recent research involves opto-electronic excitations , exciton dynamics , and FAIRmat consortium for materials data infrastructure. She has delivered over 100 invited talks globally on topics ranging from graphene to thermoelectric clathrates . Scientific Awards : Honorary Doctorate from Uppsala University Max Planck Fellow Paracelsusring Prize from Villach Fellow of the American Physical Society Ludwig Boltzmann Prize She actively contributes to open science , code development , and educational workshops on electronic structure theory. Her group includes 20+ researchers working on theoretical spectroscopy , machine learning in materials , and quantum simulations .
Christoph Heil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theoretical and Computational Physics at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), a position he has held since 2024. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at TU Graz from 2022 to 2024. His academic journey includes being a Project Leader and Senior Postdoc Researcher at TU Graz (2019-2022), a Schrödinger Fellow at both the University of Oxford (2016-2018) and TU Graz (2018-2019), and a Postdoc Researcher at TU Graz (2015-2016). He completed his PhD studies in Technical Physics at TU Graz from 2011 to 2015. Dr. Heil leads the Heil Group - Computational Material Design at TU Graz, which is part of the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Physics. His research group focuses on computational approaches to understand and design novel materials with specific properties, particularly in the field of superconductivity. Christoph Heil's primary research interests lie in computational materials science, with a strong focus on superconductivity and lattice dynamics. His work employs state-of-the-art computational methods to describe physical phenomena in materials completely from first principles. He investigates superconductivity, charge-density waves, and their competition in reduced dimensions, particularly in transition metal chalcogenides. His research also explores new superconducting carbon-based materials in the nano-regime, such as nanoribbons and nanosheets, and aims to understand the superconducting phase in high-pressure hydrides while predicting new highest-Tc materials. His approach combines theoretical physics with practical materials design, bridging fundamental understanding with potential applications. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on superconducting materials, particularly hydrides and transition metal compounds. There's a clear progression toward more sophisticated computational methods, including the development of the IsoME framework for high-precision Eliashberg calculations. His work spans from fundamental theoretical investigations to practical materials synthesis and characterization, showing a comprehensive approach to computational materials design. The research shows increasing attention to quantum anharmonic effects, which are crucial for understanding high-temperature superconductivity in hydrides. Dr. Heil has received notable recognition for his work, including: FWF Schrödinger Fellowship (2016-2019) supporting research at both the University of Oxford and TU Graz USPTO Patent 16/789143 for High Temperature Superconducting Structures He leads multiple significant research projects including DARPA SynQuaNon (2023-2028), an external research project on Computational Modelling of Superconducting Structures and Material Systems funded by Intellectual Ventures (2020-2026), and an FWF stand-alone project on Transition Metal Chalcogenides under Extreme Pressures (2019-2024). His group has successfully defended master's theses, indicating active student mentoring, and collaborates with researchers worldwide, as evidenced by numerous international co-authorships. The Heil Group operates as a dynamic research team focused on computational materials design, with current projects spanning superconducting nanophononic crystals (IVPH-NanoPhon2), computational modeling of superconducting materials, and transition metal chalcogenides under extreme pressures. The group has developed specialized computational tools like IsoME, a Julia-based framework for streamlining superconductivity calculations, demonstrating their commitment to advancing computational methodologies in materials science.
Claas Abert is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Physics, specializing in the Physics of Functional Materials. His research focuses on computational micromagnetics, magnonic devices, and magnetic material properties. Active in Micromagnetics (100%) Contributions to Anisotropy (90%), Magnetic Field Physics (71%), Magnon Physics (48%), Domain Wall Dynamics (46%), and Magnetic Multilayers (42%) Led funded projects on magnonic neural networks, magneto-phononic circuits, and tomography of chiral nanomagnets His recent work involves inverse-design methodologies for magnonic devices, optimization of magnetic systems, and damping enhancement in YIG films. He has presented at international conferences and delivered invited lectures on neuralmicromagnetic modeling. Key research areas include magnetic anisotropy, domain wall behavior, and spin-wave dynamics in functional materials Projects emphasize scalable magnonic computing, programmable magneto-phononic circuits, and physics-informed tomography techniques
Georg Kresse is a full Professor of Computational Quantum Mechanics at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Physics, leading the Computational Materials Physics group. He developed the Vienna ab initio Simulation Package (VASP), a globally dominant tool for quantum mechanical materials simulations. His research spans theoretical solid-state physics, surface science, and computational materials physics, with recent emphasis on machine learning integration and advanced electronic structure methods. Born in Vienna (1967), habilitated in condensed matter theory Full member of Austrian Academy of Sciences and International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science Recipient of START Grant (2003), Kardinal-Innitzer-Preis (2016), honorary doctorate from Lund (2022) Research focuses include: Density Functional Theory : Development of advanced functionals (hybrid, GW, RPA) Machine Learning : Applications to materials properties and force fields Quantum Monte Carlo : AFQMC methods for solids Surface Physics : Oxidation reactions and catalytic processes His publications show strong representation in: Quantum mechanical simulations Electronic and optical properties Phase transitions and thermodynamics Energy materials and nanotechnology Major projects include: MECS : Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (2023-2028) TACO : Taming Complexity in Materials Modeling (2021-2029) DCAFM : Doctoral College Advanced Functional Materials (2020-2025) His group maintains VASP, combining first-principles methods with machine learning to advance materials science understanding.
Jelena Pesic is a Research Associate Professor at the Institute of Physics Belgrade and a PostDoctoral Researcher at Montanuniversität Leoben. She holds a Ph.D. in Solid State Physics and Statistical Physics from the University of Belgrade, where her thesis focused on superconductivity in graphene and related materials using ab-initio methods. Her research spans 2D materials, low-dimensional systems, and advanced computational methods in solid state physics, with a particular emphasis on strain-driven effects and electron-phonon interactions. Education : Bachelor and Master in Theoretical and Experimental Physics (University of Belgrade, 2013), Ph.D. in Solid State and Statistical Physics (University of Belgrade, 2017). Her work involves national and international projects, including collaborations with institutions in Austria, Slovenia, China, and Germany. She has contributed to research on perovskites, iron chalcogenide superconductors, and 2D heterostructures, leveraging GPU programming and high-throughput computational techniques. She actively reviews for journals like Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A and has organized conferences such as the 21st Symposium on Condensed Matter Physics. Notable projects include the JESH grant from the Austrian Academy of Science and multilateral initiatives in the Danube Region. Her skills integrate computational modeling, material synthesis, and characterization of 2D systems.
Prof. Sabine Andergassen is an Associate Professor at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), heading the Research Group 'Computational Quantum Science'. She is affiliated with the Faculty of Informatics' Machine Learning Department and the Faculty of Physics' 'Correlations: Theory and Experiments' unit. Her roles include Deputy Director of the iCAIML Doctoral College, coordinator of the Quantum Physics Special Interest Group, and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Master’s Programme in Quantum Information Science and Technology. Her research focuses on quantum many-body physics, employing renormalization-group approaches to study materials, cold atomic gases, and nanostructures. She explores machine learning applications for high-dimensional data analysis and investigates how quantum many-body theory can enhance machine learning understanding. Key projects include the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)-funded 'Microscopic derivation of effective Hamiltonians' (2024–2027) and collaborations with CONENGA Engineers GmbH. Recent publications emphasize renormalization-group methods for the Hubbard model, fluctuation diagnostics in quantum systems, and machine learning dynamics of quantum observables. Her work bridges theoretical physics and computational techniques, advancing interdisciplinary research in quantum and machine learning domains. Grants and projects include FWF support and industry partnerships. She supervises students like S. Voith on neural network applications in industrial systems. Academic leadership roles highlight her contributions to doctoral education and interdisciplinary program coordination.
Pablo Ordejon is a Research Professor and Director of the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) since 2012. He has held academic positions at institutions across Spain and the USA, including Universidad de Oviedo and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. PhD in Physics (1992) - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid His research focuses on quantum electronic transport, density functional theory, and nanomaterials like graphene and carbon nanotubes. His work includes foundational contributions to computational methods like the SIESTA approach. Recent publications highlight studies on 2D materials, spin-orbit interactions, and carbon nanostructures. His research has been cited over 6,000 times, with key works on non-equilibrium transport and tight-binding models. Narcís Monturiol Medal (2018) Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence Awards (2014, 2018) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2005) Placa de Honor (2003) He has secured substantial research funding, including €4M Severo Ochoa grants (2014-2022) and EU projects like MaX and NFFA Europe. His leadership roles include Board of Trustees membership at BIST and heading the Information Technologies Service at ICMAB-CSIC.
Nicola Spaldin is a Professor and Chair of Materials Theory in the Department of Materials at ETH Zurich, a position she has held since 2010. She previously served as Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor in the Materials Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1997 to 2010. Spaldin has held numerous visiting professorships at institutions including Uppsala University, UC Berkeley, Cambridge University, and the Jawarhalal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley (1996) and a B.A. in Natural Sciences with First Class Honours from Cambridge University (1991). Spaldin's research focuses on strongly correlated materials , materials chemistry , and electronic-structure theory , with particular emphasis on multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials. She has pioneered theoretical approaches to understanding the fundamental physics of complex materials, establishing foundational principles in the field of multiferroics. Her work bridges condensed matter physics and materials science, addressing both fundamental questions and potential applications of novel material phenomena. Spaldin's extensive publication record includes approximately 200 papers with over 47,500 citations and an h-index of 85. Her research spans theoretical investigations of magnetoelectric coupling, dynamical multiferroic effects, ultrafast phenomena in materials, and the fundamental constraints on magnetic ferroelectricity. She has also authored the influential textbook "Magnetic Materials" (2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2010). Member, German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) (2022) Europhysics Prize of the European Physical Society (2022) Hamburg Prize for Theoretical Physics (2022) Member, Austrian Academy of Sciences (2022) IUPAP Magnetism Award and Néel Medal (2021) Member, French Academy of Sciences (2021) Swiss Science Prize Marcel Benoist (2019) Foreign Member, National Academy of Engineering (USA) (2019) Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) (2017) Spaldin has served in significant leadership roles including Founding Lead Editor of Physical Review Research, Coordinator of the ETH Materials Department BS curriculum revision project "The Materials Scientist 2030, Who is She?" and Director of the International Center for Materials Research at UC Santa Barbara (2007-2010). She has also served on numerous advisory boards including the ERC Scientific Council and various international research institutions. Her laboratory at ETH Zurich focuses on theoretical materials science, particularly computational approaches to understanding complex material properties and developing new theoretical frameworks for multiferroic phenomena.
Univ.-Prof. Helmut Ritsch is a Professor in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Universität Innsbruck. He leads the Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics (CQED) research group, focusing on quantum optics, ultra-cold gas physics, and light-matter interaction. His work explores collective phenomena like superradiance, subradiance, quantum thermodynamics, and cavity cooling. Key research areas include quantum metrology, light forces, and optomechanical systems. Ritsch's group investigates applications in precision measurement, quantum computing, and novel light-matter interfaces. His theoretical contributions bridge quantum theory with experimental implementations, often leveraging quantum correlations and many-body physics. Research highlights include studies on self-organization of cold atoms in cavities, quantum thermal machines, and subradiant states for enhanced metrology. His team develops computational frameworks like QuantumOptics.jl for simulating open quantum systems. Ritsch collaborates internationally, contributing to projects like the iqClock Consortium for precision timekeeping. His work combines foundational physics with practical applications in quantum technologies.
