Koenraad Schalm

Koenraad Schalm is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at Leiden University, affiliated with the Leiden Institute of Physics (LION) within the Faculty of Science. He leads the Schalm Group, which focuses on string theory and its applications in condensed matter and cosmology through holographic duality (AdS/CFT).

His research interests include string theory, quantum critical systems, holographic models of superconductivity, black hole physics, and early universe cosmology. He explores how string-theoretic models can explain experimental observations in quantum materials and primordial fluctuations.

The recent publications highlight a strong focus on applying holography to condensed matter phenomena, including strange metals, superconductivity, and non-equilibrium transport. There is also significant work on cosmological perturbations and inflation, showing interdisciplinary reach between high-energy theory and observational cosmology.

• Vici Innovation Research Incentives Award, NWO (2013)
• Vidi Innovation Research Incentives Award, NWO (2004)
• FOM Program group grant 'Observing the big bang: the quantum universe and its imprint on the sky' (2014)
• NWO Graduate Program Award 'de Sitter Program in Cosmology' (2011)
• FOM Project grant with J. Zaanen (2009)
• FOM Program group grant 'A String Theoretic Approach to Cosmology and Quantum Matter' (2009)
• NWO van Gogh Grant with P.S. Corasaniti (2007)
• FOM Project grant with E. Verlinde and J.P. van der Schaar (2007)

Schalm has advised numerous PhD students and collaborators, including Aravindh Swaminathan, Shankar Aleksandar Bukva, Ludwig Hoffmann, and Petter Säterskog. He has been principal investigator on multiple NWO and FOM grants. He co-organized workshops such as 'Black Hole Answers for Condensed Matter Questions' and 'Effective Field Theory in Inflation', and is actively involved in academic service.

He leads the Schalm Group, which investigates the interface between string theory and experiment, particularly through the AdS/CMT correspondence. The group aims to uncover quantum signatures of string theory in condensed matter systems and cosmological data.