20 September 2024

Quantum Talents Munich Symposium - Promoting opportunities in quantum science

The first-time event brought together exceptional PhD candidates and early-career postdocs from around the world to present their research in quantum science and technology. Organized by the Munich quantum community, the two-day symposium aimed to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and career development.

The Quantum Talents Symposium Munich is a joint initiative of the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), the International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Science and Technology (IMPRS-QST), the Munich Quantum Valley (MQV), and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. Its main goals are to provide a platform for emerging early-career researchers, facilitate knowledge sharing, inspire collaboration, and promote career opportunities in quantum science.

The program received over 65 applications from which 13 finalists were invited to Munich for the two-day symposium hosted at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching. The selection criteria focused on the applicants’ academic excellence and scientific vision by articulating a clear vision for future research contributions. Additionally, the selection committee paid special attention to increasing diversity in the field of quantum science, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment that values the contributions of researchers from all backgrounds.

The main focus of the event was the presentations by the finalists, who delivered brief yet insightful talks on their current research. The talks were open to the local quantum community and discussions continued throughout the coffee breaks and lunch. During a dedicated poster session, participants had a further chance to network and learn more about the ongoing research at the host institutions.

Quantum Talents Awards and the Entanglement Prize

A special jury, composed of members from various institutions and fields of research, was tasked with selecting the winners of the Quantum Talents awards. "Living up to the event’s name, the finalists delivered stunning presentations detailing their cutting-edge research and showcasing their exceptional talent. Witnessing these scientists in action makes me optimistic about the future of our field. I only wish the jury could have awarded more prizes in recognition of their achievements.", says Robert König, Professor of Theory of Complex Quantum Systems at TUM and one of the jury members. At the closing dinner, held in a traditional Bavarian setting, five exceptional researchers were recognized with awards for their outstanding contributions.

Left to right: Liza Andriyakhina (FU Berlin), Deepankur Thureja (Harvard), Michael Lebert (QuantumLeaks Foundation), Sara Murciano (Caltech), Robert König (TUM), Nadine Leisgang (Harvard), Johannes Zeiher (MPQ), and Nathanan Tantivasadakarn (Caltech)

The awards were generously funded by the QuantumLeaks Foundation and Quantinuum respectively. The Entanglement Prize, endowed with 5000 euros and sponsored by the Quantum Leaks Foundation, went to Sara Murciano, Postdoctoral Researcher at the California Institute of Technology, for her work on connecting foundational quantum information concepts to quantum many-body physics and discovering quantum ice-cream.

The Quantum Talents awards, offered by Quantinuum, were given to three of the finalists. Nadine Leisgang, SNF Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard University received one award for “her contributions to control interlayer excitons in atomically thin heterostructures.”Nathanan Tantivasadakarn, Postdoctoral Researcher at California Institute of Technology, was honoured by the jury or his contribution to “proposing and demonstrating new measurement-based protocols for creating non-abelian topological order, and for their gauge-theoretic interpretation”. Lastly, Deepankur Thureja, HQI Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, won a Quantum Talents award “for his development of spatially confined excitonic structures in monolayer semiconductors”. All three Quantum Talents awards were endowed with 1800 euros.

In addition, the jury awarded a Junior Quantum Talent prize to PhD candidate Liza Andriyakhina of Freie Universität Berlin for her “outstanding early-career contributions to theoretically understanding disordered 2d superconductors”.

"The mission of the Symposium greatly aligns with my vision of incubating an interdisciplinary environment for quantum science, and was an exclusive opportunity for me to share my research. At the same time, I had the chance to use my unique experiences to contribute in discussions across the different communities present, and potentially establish future collaborations with researchers in Munich." says Nathanan Tantivasadakarn (Caltech), one of the awardees.

During the symposium, the finalists had the opportunity to explore the local research environment through guided lab tours. By visiting various research groups and institutions on the Garching campus, participants experienced the wide-ranging research infrastructure firsthand.

It was a true pleasure for the host institutions - MCQST, MQV, IMPRS and MPQ to meet and host the symposium finalists. Some of them are already planning short stays with research groups here in Munich, and we wish them all success in their future endeavors. We hope to see them back in Munich again soon!