Michael W. Zuerch

Michael W. Zuerch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley (since 2025) and a Faculty Scientist in the Materials Sciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (since 2020). He previously served as Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley (2019-2025) and held leadership roles at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society and FSU Jena.

• Ph.D. in Physics, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) Jena (2014)
• Diploma in Physics, FSU Jena (2010)

His research focuses on structural, carrier, and spin dynamics in quantum materials using ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy and nanoimaging. He develops novel nonlinear X-ray techniques to study materials at sub-femtosecond timescales and nanometer length scales for applications in quantum electronics, data storage, and solar energy conversion.

Selected honors include:

• Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize (2025)
• DOE Early Career Award (2023)
• Hellman Fellow (2021)
• Fresnel Prize by European Physical Society (2021)
• W. M. Keck Foundation Science and Engineering Research Award (2020)

He leads the Zuerch Lab (external link) and collaborates closely with material synthesis and theory groups.