Maria Daghofer is a Professor and Vice Dean of the Department of Physics at the University of Stuttgart. She leads the Institute for Functional Matter and Quantum Technologies, focusing on quantum materials and strongly correlated electron systems. Her research explores topological phases, superconductivity, and magnetism in novel materials like nickelates and Kitaev-based systems. Key themes include Floquet engineering, orbital excitations, and electronic structure modeling. She has contributed significantly to understanding quantum criticality and topological degeneracy in spin chains. Her work bridges theoretical predictions with experimental realizations in quantum materials. Research interests emphasize quantum phase transitions, emergent phenomena in correlated systems, and the interplay between topology and magnetism. Recent studies investigate topological edge states, piezomagnetism in altermagnets, and superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates. Experimental collaborations focus on fractional Chern insulators and Rydberg atom systems. Daghofer's contributions have advanced theoretical frameworks for analyzing orbital polaron behavior and electronic correlations in layered cuprates. Her role as Head of Institute positions her at the forefront of functional matter research, integrating computational modeling with material synthesis efforts. Though no specific awards are listed, her prolific publication record (over 50 articles since 2006) underscores sustained leadership in condensed matter physics. Current projects explore novel superconducting mechanisms and topological quantum states under external stimuli like circularly polarized light.
