Rethinking Physics
100 years of quantum mechanics - time for a female perspective!
The quantum revolution began over a century ago when German physicist Max Planck introduced his quantum hypothesis. By discovering the concept of the quantum leap, he shattered the framework of classical physics. In 1925, quantum mechanics was given its mathematical foundation, marking the birth of modern physics – a new way of understanding the world that paved the way for high-tech innovations like lasers, computer chips, and solar panels. But at the dawn of this revolution, it was mostly men who led the charge. Women faced significant barriers to entering the field and had to fight long and hard for recognition.
In Germany, it wasn’t until 1900 that women were even allowed to enroll in universities as regular students, moving beyond the role of passive observers. It would take nearly two more decades before the first female scientists in Germany were allowed to qualify for university teaching positions.
Role models: Time for a female perspective!
This explains why the hall of fame in physics includes so few “great women” – notable exceptions being double Nobel Prize laureate Marie Curie, and Lise Meitner, Germany’s first female professor of physics. Yet, many remarkable contributions have been overlooked. Take Grete Hermann, for example – a mathematician, physicist, and philosopher whose groundbreaking work on the principles and interpretation of quantum mechanics in the 1930s was largely unknown by her contemporaries. Around thirty years later, a physicist from Northern Ireland arrived at similar conclusions and used them to develop Bell’s theorem. Hermann was ahead of her time and her work was only later rediscovered. Today, an international network of female researchers based at the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter – proudly bears her name.
But times are changing, and women are claiming their place in physics. After all, quantum physics is also female. But challenges remain: of the 227 Nobel Prizes in Physics awarded so far, only five have gone to women. That needs to change. This exhibition offers a fresh perspective, showcasing women whose passion for physics transcends stereotypes and social constructs. These portraits celebrate science on equal terms, driven by curiosity and enthusiasm. Let their stories inspire you to rethink what’s possible!
Reaching for the stars
Alina has always set her sights high. “As a little girl, I was fascinated by the starry sky,” she recalls. “I couldn’t wait to start physics at school because it has so much to do with space travel. It helps me understand the laws of nature and the universe.” Her passion ignited further in 2018 when she watched German astronaut Alexander Gerst embark on his second space mission, imagining herself joining him on the journey.
When she’s not studying physics, Alina is flying – literally. Almost every weekend, she takes glider lessons as she works toward earning her pilot’s license. “It’s my favorite hobby apart from physics!” she says. Her hunger for knowledge led her to start a pre-university program in physics at the age of 16, completing five semesters alongside high school. But Alina isn’t just a scholar; she’s a hands-on innovator. With her team, she designed a mini-satellite no larger than a soda can for the assessment of wildfire risk, winning first prize in the German Cansat student satellite competition. At the European finals in Spain, her team was named Most Professional Team by the European Space Agency (esa), Alina recalls proudly.
Determined to tackle plastic waste, Alina developed a research project aimed at improving the sorting process for recycling. She leveraged the different electrostatic properties of plastics to refine separation techniques and even filed a patent for her idea. Her efforts earned her multiple awards in the German youth research competition “Jugend forscht.” She’s now collaborating with a commercial company to bring her concept closer to market readiness. “I love making a positive impact and changing the world,” Alina says. After graduating high school, she took a year out to work as a paramedic with the German Red Cross. “It was my way of giving back to society,” she explains. Today, Alina is back to studying physics, aiming high as ever. Whether she becomes an astronaut or continues her groundbreaking research, one thing is certain: she’s reaching for the stars.
When she was 16, Alina enrolled on a pre-university physics program at Goethe University Frankfurt in 2021.
In spring 2023, she and her Bad Homburg high school team Astra Aether won first prize in the German CanSat competition, in which school students developed and built mini-satellites the size of a soda can. At the European CanSat finals in Spain that summer, Astra Aether was officially declared the Most Professional Team by the European Space Agency (esa). Alina’s team was featured on the German children’s TV show “Sendung mit der Maus,” and the members were invited to attend the Italian National Space Day at the Italian Embassy in Berlin, where they met Italian esa astronaut Roberto Vittori.
That same year, Alina won two prizes in the technology category of the German youth research competition “Jugend forscht” for her research project “Polyselect – Mono-Material Separation of Plastics Using Electric Fields” aimed at improving the sorting process for recycling.
In 2023, Alina graduated from high school in Bad Homburg, where she had attended advanced classes in math and physics. She was awarded a prize as one of the two best physics students in her year, and was also commended together with some of her classmates for her role in a dialogue project with a school in Tanzania. She then trained as a paramedic with the German Red Cross in Bad Homburg.
Since 2023, Alina has been involved in organizing the International Physics Olympiad and the International Junior Science Olympiad as part of Hesse’s coordination team.
In 2024, Alina competed again in “Jugend forscht”, this time in the physics category. She won third prize and a check from the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science for her project “Polyselect – Sorting Plastic by Electricity.” She also received a special award from the Ernst A.C. Lange Foundation: an invitation to the London International Youth Science Forum. Additionally, she presented findings from her PolySelect project at the spring conferences of the German Physical Society in Greifswald and Berlin. Representing “Jugend forscht,” she showcased her project at achema, the world’s leading trade show for process industries. She then published her first paper, “Sorting Plastic by Electricity”, which she presented at the 18th esd (Electrostatic Discharge) Forum in Dresden. Currently, Alina is collaborating with a commercial partner to develop a concept for sorting bottle caps.
In 2024, Alina fulfilled a dream by meeting her inspiration, German esa astronaut Dr. Alexander Gerst, during filming for an episode of the educational television show “Sendung mit der Maus” about space travel.
Since fall 2024, Alina has been studying physics in Frankfurt.
Working on the Holodeck
Amelie’s journey into the realm of physics was sparked by the science fiction universe of the original Star Trek series. “Watching Star Trek as a child introduced me to fascinating concepts in physics like black holes, holography, gravitation, and wormholes. We physicists use the same terms, albeit in very different ways.”
Today, Amelie is conducting research on a Holodeck herself – not in outer space, of course, but at university. After all, her master’s thesis revolved around phenomena like holography and gravity. “I’ve always been driven by a desire to dismantle things and reassemble them, to delve into how things work and discover their underlying principles. Physics has always been the perfect tool for satisfying my curiosity,” she explains. “I adore theoretical models and intricate calculations!”
“I know that I’m good at physics, that I do well done work – and I want to publish it. I want to contribute to science and advance our collective knowledge,” says Amelie. “Physics is inherently collaborative, involving extensive teamwork.” Striving to make significant contributions in a field still dominated by men, she aims to continue her research, pursue an academic career, and secure a professorship. “For me, physics is more than a discipline – it’s a language that describes, elucidates, and forecasts reality, which I find utterly captivating.”
Amelie graduated top of her class in 2016, followed by a year volunteering at Alut Givat Brener, an Israeli care facility for individuals with autism. She started her physics degree at jmu Würzburg in 2017, earned her bachelor’s in 2021, and began her master’s in theoretical physics in 2022, producing a thesis titled “Improved Holographic Mott Insulator: Duality Between Zeros and Poles in the Fermionic Green’s Function.” Even before completing her master’s program, she presented the interim findings of her thesis in 2024 in a talk and poster presentation at the tpi School on qft and Holography: Entanglement and Symmetries at the University of Jena.
Alongside her studies, Amelie mentored students across various subjects, including classical physics, electrodynamics, and statistics. She also gave practical instruction to medical students learning how to conduct scientific experiments.
In 2024, Amelie embarked on her doctoral thesis at the University of Bonn, entitled “Scattering Amplitudes from Feynman Integrals using Integrability and Holographic Tools.”
Since 2022, Amelie has also been an active member of the Student Queer and Feminist Department of Diversity and Equality.
Fond of variety
One degree, endless possibilities. “Physics opens up an incredible range of opportunities and career paths,” says Anja. “Whether it’s astrophysics, biophysics, or solid-state physics – a physics degree offers so many possibilities later on. That’s why I chose it.” From an early age, one thing was clear to Anja: her future would involve both science and mathematics. “I’ve always loved math – and this combination is fascinating.”
A research visit in Bologna, a semester abroad in Dublin, a conference in Las Vegas, summer schools in Stockholm and San Sebastian – Anja’s studies and research have taken her far and wide. “You can learn so much during research stays – absorb new knowledge, develop new skills, and bring fresh ideas back to your research group,” she explains. “Organizing these experiences and collaborating with new teams is incredibly enriching and formative. My fellow students really motivated me to take the leap and embrace these opportunities.”
For Anja, success isn’t measured by degrees, grades, or awards. “I first felt truly successful in science when I realized how much fun I was having,” she recalls. That moment came during her master’s thesis in theoretical physics. “It focused on thermal transport in spin-ladders and its description through conformal field theory – something I knew nothing about at first and found daunting. But completing the project successfully made me realize how much I enjoyed the work: learning and applying new methods, conducting research, and presenting the findings.”
Anja Wenger began studying physics in 2016 at jmu Würzburg. She completed her bachelor’s degree in 2019 and immediately started her master’s program, which included a semester in Ireland as an Erasmus student at Trinity College Dublin. She returned to Würzburg to finish her master’s degree, graduating in 2022 with distinction and receiving the Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Study Prize from the Institute of Physics at the University of Würzburg’s Faculty of Physics and Astronomy. Her master’s thesis addressed “Thermal Transport in Weakly Coupled Spin-½ Heisenberg Ladders.”
Since 2022, Anja has been pursuing a PhD in theoretical physics at Würzburg. In 2022, she attended the Quantum Connections Summer School in Stockholm (Sweden) and in 2023, the Topological Matter School in San Sebastian (Spain). She gave talks at the American Physical Society’s March Meeting 2023 in Las Vegas (usa) and at the spring meetings of the German Physical Society 2023 in Dresden and 2024 in Berlin (Germany). In addition, she completed a research stay at the University of Bologna (Italy) in 2024. In connection with her doctorate, one of the topics she is currently working on is the use of ab initio calculations to analyze quantum materials.
During her studies, Anja also worked as a teaching assistant, supervising laboratory internships and mentoring students.
Since 2023, Anja has acted as a representative for early-career researchers at ct.qmat in the Quantum Matter Academy. In connection with this role, since 2024 she has been a member of the ct.qmat Steering Committee. Since 2024, she has also served as the deputy equal opportunities officer at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy in Würzburg.
Persevering until the Eureka moment
Clara thrives on finding definitive answers, a passion that led her to study physics in Dresden and pursue a research career. “In the natural sciences, you can’t avoid verifiable statements. The answer to a question is always either right or wrong. When you think you’ve found a solution, you have to prove whether it’s correct or not. If it doesn’t work, you keep trying and keep searching.” Perseverance, she believes, is the key to success in science.
“Of course, there are lean periods,” Clara admits, “but those eureka moments always come along, making me proud and driving me forward.” For her doctoral research, Clara is investigating the unique properties and effects on the surface of certain superconducting materials. “There are so many fascinating questions in physics that remain unanswered or only partially understood. Sometimes, you head in the wrong direction five times and take ten detours before the penny drops and a conclusive result emerges. That moment when everything suddenly becomes clear and makes sense – that’s what makes it all worthwhile.” She draws inspiration and energy from her colleagues and mentors. “Science is a team effort, with many people working together to create new knowledge,” Clara explains.
“I was the only girl in my advanced physics class at school. Now, almost half my team are women – but that’s still an exception. Overall, there are still far too few of us, and I’d love to see that change,” Clara emphasizes. Committed to fostering equality in physics, Clara serves as deputy equal opportunities officer, actively working to challenge gender biases and unconscious stereotypes that create unnecessary hurdles for talented individuals.
After excelling in advanced physics and math classes in high school and graduating with top marks, Clara began studying physics at TU Dresden in 2016. During her studies, she mentored younger students, first as a student assistant and later as a research assistant.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2019 and completed her master’s in 2021. Currently pursuing a PhD in the Condensed Matter Theory research group, Clara is exploring Majorana quasiparticles – particles with exciting potential for quantum computing – on the surface of superconductors. Since late 2021, she has also served as the deputy equal opportunities officer for the Faculty of Physics.
In the hall of fame
Claudia pushes the boundaries between chemistry and physics. As the director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids in Dresden, she designs novel quantum materials that could revolutionize the computer industry and dramatically improve energy efficiency. With an extensive global scientific network, Claudia is one of the most cited researchers in the world. In 2023, her achievements earned her a place in the German Research Hall of Fame compiled by business publication “Manager Magazin.”
Growing up as one of six children – four of whom were boys – Claudia wasn’t expected to go to high school. Instead, her family assumed she would enter the social sector. But an elementary school teacher sparked her interest in physics early on, and her aptitude for math and chemistry was soon noted. Claudia attended high school after all, where she took advanced science classes. Despite these gifts, Claudia initially studied special education. However, her heart was always set on complex formulas and calculations. She ultimately switched to chemistry, added a dash of physics, and then embarked on a stellar career, rising to become the director of a Max Planck Institute. “I’ve always flown a bit under the radar,” she says. Her “secret recipe”? A relentless passion for research and discovery.
Claudia has received numerous international accolades and is a member of prestigious institutions worldwide. Yet her proudest accomplishment is more personal: “My wonderful daughter, who is now pursuing her doctorate in battery research, and my two grandchildren!” As a single mother, Claudia understands the challenges of balancing family and career: “Even though things have improved, there are still too few childcare options in Germany.” She also advocates for breaking down stereotypes that limit scientific potential: “Prejudices about whether men or women are more suitable for certain professions must disappear. These biases often start during puberty.” Her advice to young female scientists? “Don’t let anything hold you back. Take advantage of mentoring programs and focus on building your network!”
Claudia Felser studied inorganic chemistry at the University of Cologne, graduating in 1989. She completed her doctorate in chemical physics in 1994 at the same university. During this time, she also gave birth to her daughter.
She pursued postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart until 1995 and at the Jean Rouxel Institute of Materials in Nantes, France, until 1996. Claudia then became an assistant professor at the University of Mainz, earning her habilitation in inorganic chemistry in 2001. She was promoted to associate professor and later held her own chair from 2003 to 2014.
Claudia has been the director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids in Dresden since 2011 and an honorary professor at TU Dresden since 2012. In 2019, she also served as a visiting professor of physics/applied physics at Harvard University. Claudia is one of the 25 principal investigators in ct.qmat. She has been a scientific vice president of the Max Planck Society since 2023.
Claudia is a member of numerous prestigious scientific institutions, including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (since 2018) and acatech, the German Academy of Science and Engineering (since 2019). She is an elected member of the European Academy of Sciences (since 2020) and an international member of both the National Academy of Engineering (since 2020) and the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (since 2021). Additionally, she is an elected fellow of the UK’s Institute of Physics (since 2012), the American Physical Society (since 2013), and the IEEE Magnetics Society (since 2016).
Twice, in 2011 and 2017, the European Research Council recognized her groundbreaking work with an ERC Advanced Grant, awarded to the world’s leading researchers. Claudia has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the Tsungmin Tu Research Award (2015) from Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials from the American Physical Society (2019), and the Max Born Prize from the British Institute of Physics and the German Physical Society (2022). In the same year, she was also honored with the Liebig Medal of the German Chemical Society, the European Academy of Sciences’ Blaise Pascal Medal in Materials Science, and in 2023, the EPS Condensed Matter Division Europhysics Prize from the European Physical Society.
Claudia has shown exceptional dedication to supporting early-career female scientists. She served as a mentor for young female researchers at the Robert Bosch Foundation (2010–19), contributed as a member of the Max Planck Society’s commission for the promotion of young scientists (2013–17), and played a pivotal role on the board of the Elisabeth Schiemann Kolleg, an initiative supporting young women in science for the Max Planck Directorate (2013–23).
Claudia has held leadership and advisory roles in many scientific organizations:
Advisory board member, IEEE Magnetics Society (2010–15)
Member of the ERC Advanced Grant selection committee (2015–20)
Board member (2016–19) and president (2018–20), German Chemical Society’s Division of Solid State Chemistry & Materials Research
Board member, German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (2018–24)
Member of the board of directors, Materials Research Society, USA (2020–23)
Elected member of DFG Review Board 307 “Condensed Matter Physics” (2020–24)
Spokesperson, Magnetism Working Group, German Physical Society (since 2023)
Claudia has around 850 publications to her name (as of December 2024).
Conquering resistance with cold and pressure
Elena thrives under extreme conditions. Her laboratory in Dresden boasts chilling temperatures nearing absolute zero (–273.14°C) where, applying immense pressure and powerful magnetic fields, she and her team overcome electrical resistance and unravel the mysteries of superconductivity. The unlikely inspiration for her journey? Chocolate ice cream!
Superconductors are a marvel of quantum physics. Unlike conventional conductors, they transmit electricity without generating heat and without any loss of power, paving the way for not just substantial energy savings, but also groundbreaking technologies. So far, however, this phenomenon only occurs at low temperatures. “My goal is to decipher the mechanisms that govern superconductivity,” explains Elena. In 2021, her research group discovered two unconventional superconducting phases in cerium-rhodium-arsenic (CeRh2As2) that are unexpectedly resilient to incredibly strong magnetic fields. Elena was subsequently awarded a €2.7 million Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council to further her pioneering research into unconventional superconductors – an honor she’s very proud of.
“My fascination with nature’s laws started early,” Elena recalls. Her academic path in physics was sparked during a school career session and was cemented by a fascinating lecture and an intriguing demonstration during a lab tour in Heidelberg, where nitrogen was used to make chocolate ice cream. This sparked her passion for cryogenics. “I loved it and all the cooling techniques – and that’s why I became a low-temperature physicist.” Elena is also a staunch advocate for greater recognition of the excellence of female physicists, asserting: “It’s time we were acknowledged without having to keep proving ourselves. Women in physics should be the norm, not the exception.”
Elena Hassinger’s academic journey began with a physics degree from Heidelberg University in 2007, followed by a PhD from the CEA Research Institute in Grenoble in 2010. Her postdoctoral work in Canada was distinguished by prestigious awards, including a Global Scholarship from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a grant from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT). Notably, she balanced her burgeoning career with motherhood, having two children during this period.
Elena headed the independent research group Physics of Unconventional Metals and Superconductors at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids in Dresden from 2014 to 2022, and held a tenure-track professorship in Quantum Matter – Experimental Solid State Physics at TU Munich from 2016 to 2022.
Since 2022, she has held ct.qmat’s Chair of Low-Temperature Physics of Complex Electron Systems at TU Dresden. Her roles as a principal investigator of the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat and a Max Planck Fellow underscore her leading position in the field. She is also a principal investigator of Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1143 “Correlated Magnetism: From Frustration to Topology.” In 2023, she was awarded a Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council (ERC) with research funding of €2.7 million.
Elena now has over 15 years of experience in quantum matter and by December 2024 had co-authored more than 60 publications in prestigious journals. The milestones in her scientific career include:
The creation of pressure phase diagrams of various unconventional superconductors and the nodal structure of Sr2RuO4
While analyzing the electronic structure in Weyl semimetals, the discovery that current inhomogeneities can affect the measurement of longitudinal magnetoresistance
The identification of two-phase superconductivity in CeRh2As2, a unique unconventional superconductor influenced by Rashba and Kondo interactions
Transforming the world with numbers and equations
Ewelina has been captivated by numbers and equations since childhood. Her love of mathematics began in elementary school, fueled by exploring her mother’s math books – her mother was an economist. “My parents nurtured my talent,” she recalls. Her fascination deepened when she learned about Maria Skłodowska, better known as Marie Curie. “She was also Polish, born in Warsaw, and she became world-famous for winning two Nobel Prizes – in physics in 1903 and in chemistry in 1911. She became my greatest inspiration.”
When Ewelina encountered physics, her path became clear: “That’s what I want to do!” she decided. “Math felt a bit too dry in the long run, and while I liked chemistry, there was too much emphasis on practical applications for me. Physics was the perfect challenge – and I love challenges!” Her passion for numbers and equations found new life in physics. “Math provided the perfect foundation for my career in physics,” she adds.
“I always wanted to be a scientist – research is pure joy for me,” Ewelina explains. “I love solving problems with my team, staying focused, and constantly learning new things about our world. My work is also my hobby – it’s the perfect combination!” As a theorist, she collaborates with experimental colleagues to test her concepts. “It’s an amazing feeling when experimental results confirm a theoretical idea – it means we’re one step closer to unraveling nature’s mysteries.” Ewelina encourages her students to trust in their abilities and believe in themselves.
Ewelina Hankiewicz is a professor at the Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at jmu Würzburg and a principal investigator (PI) in ct.qmat. Her academic journey has taken her from Poland to the United States and Germany. She studied physics at Gdańsk University of Technology, where she was awarded a science scholarship by the President of the City of Gdańsk. She received her master’s degree in 1997, an achievement that also earned her the Medal of Gdańsk University of Technology.
In 2001, Ewelina completed her doctorate at the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. She then moved to the United States for postdoctoral research, first at Iowa State University and its affiliate Ames Laboratory, followed by Texas A&M University in College Station and the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Ewelina’s academic career progressed with an assistant professorship at Fordham University in New York. She then accepted a position at jmu Würzburg in Germany, where she began as a junior professor and has been a full professor since 2011. Currently, Ewelina is working toward achieving her own university chair.
Putting matter into exotic states
Hélène thrives in the nanoworld. The term “nano” comes from the Greek word for dwarf, but the objects Hélène explores in her lab aren’t just tiny – they span from a billionth to a millionth of a meter wide. Although they’re larger than individual atoms, they’re much smaller than anything we encounter in our daily lives.
In the tiny nanoworld, strange laws of physics prevail. Here, matter obeys quantum mechanics. For example, electrical currents can flow without any voltage bias. Hélène wants to pinpoint when these exotic states occur and explore their potential applications. She’s also on a quest to uncover new phenomena that have eluded detection until now. Making the invisible measurable ignites her passion. “When I experiment, I engage with the essence of matter itself!” Mind you, this wasn’t always the case, she adds: “At the start of my career, I was afraid of complex experiments and focused more on theoretical concepts.”
Before delving into the nanoworld, Hélène’s scientific curiosity was aimed skyward. “I wanted to explore galaxies,” she recalls. She contributed to mapping a distant galaxy at the Nançay Radio Observatory in central France, home to one of the world’s biggest radio telescopes. “However, I later discovered the allure and creativity of hands-on laboratory work. Touching and seeing materials allows for a deeper understanding, as you can observe the varying scales at which phenomena occur,” she says. “Galaxies are mesmerizing, but I find quantum mechanics – which helps us elucidate the behavior of atoms and matter – even more fascinating.”
The daughter of two physicists, Hélène Bouchiat was immersed in the world of physics from an early age. From 1977 to 1981, she studied at the École normale supérieure in Paris, one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, embarking on what would become a distinguished career:
She earned her doctorate in solid-state physics in 1986 from Paris-Sud University (now Paris-Saclay University) with a thesis entitled “Spin Glass Transition: Critical Behavior and Magnetic Noise.” She spent 1986 to 1988 as a postdoctoral researcher at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, Usa, while already holding a position in French state research organization the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (Cnrs).
In 1987, she received the esteemed Cnrs Bronze Medal for her pioneering research.
She was awarded the Prix Suzanne et Anatole Abragam in 1994 and the Prix Jaffé in 1998 by the French Academy of Sciences.
In 1998, she was appointed director of research by the Cnrs at the Solid State Laboratory at Paris-Sud University.
She was honored with the Cnrs Silver Medal in 2007.
From 2007 to 2010, she served on the Condensed Matter Physics Evaluation Panel of the European Research Council.
Hélène has been a member of the French Academy of Sciences since 2010.
She is still a director of research at the Cnrs and is a member of the Solid State Laboratory of Paris-Saclay University. Married to a fellow physicist, she has three children and four grandchildren.
Delving into the mysteries of black holes
According to Einstein, stars and galaxies – like all masses in the universe – bend space-time. But black holes bend it so much that anything getting too close to them can no longer escape – it is swallowed up. What happens inside black holes is not yet understood, however, because this is where gravity meets the quantum world. Professor Erdmenger explores the question of how the two opposing concepts of gravity and quantum mechanics can be combined.
“To explain the Big Bang or the interior of black holes, we have to understand the quantum properties of gravity,” explains the physicist. “Using concepts from quantum information, such as qubits, we can describe some of the quantum processes inside black holes.” In particular, this makes it clearer why black holes emit thermal radiation, Hawking radiation.
However, her research is not only providing new insights into these fundamental questions. In her quest to uncover the nature of quantum gravity, she has also found similarities between black holes and new quantum materials – actually separate fields of science. “There are exciting connections here that we can learn a lot from,” explains Professor Erdmenger. “For example, using our fundamental methods, we find that electrons can move through electrical conductors like a viscous liquid – a kind of quantum honey.” In practical terms, this research approach could lead to the development of new high-tech materials – for example, “quantum honey” as a digital storage medium.
Professor Erdmenger is also enthusiastic about the philosophical aspects of physics. “There’s so much here to explore – for example, how does our research affect our understanding of reality, of matter?” She enjoys passing on her love of discovery and has supervised the theses of38 doctoral researchers. She encourages women to pursue their dreams in physics with confidence. “Follow your passion,” she urges. “Never let anyone intimidate you!”
Professor Johanna Erdmenger studied physics in Hamburg, graduating in 1992. She then went to the University of Cambridge in the UK, where she carried out research in theoretical physics on a topic from quantum field theory, and was awarded her doctorate in 1996. As a postdoctoral researcher, she first worked at Leipzig University and then from 1999 to 2001 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge/Massachusetts in the Usa.
She continued her career in Germany. Between 2001 and 2005, she was Emmy Noether Group Leader at the Institute of Physics at Humboldt University in Berlin. She completed her habilitation in theoretical physics there in 2004. She then worked as a research group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich from 2005 to 2016, and also held an honorary professorship at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich from 2014. In 2016, she was appointed full professor of theoretical physics with her own chair at Jmu Würzburg. Since 2019, she has been a principal investigator (PI) of the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat. In the Grete Hermann Network, she highlights the scientific expertise of female physicists.
Professor Johanna Erdmenger has published over 200 papers (as of December 2024).
Further milestones of her scientific career:
In 1995, she was awarded the J.T. Knight Prize by the University of Cambridge.
From 1999 to 2005, Johanna Erdmenger received a research grant within the Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation (Dfg).
From 2005 to 2016, she was a principal investigator of the Cluster of Excellence Origin and Structure of the Universe run jointly by TU Munich and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Between 2007 and 2012, she was the Editor of the European Physical Journal C.
In 2008, she received the Bernhard Hess Prize from the Bernhard Hess University Foundation, Regensburg University Foundations.
From 2011 to 2016, she was deputy spokesperson and board member of the Esf European Network Holographic Methods for Strongly Coupled Systems.
From 2016 to 2020, she was an elected member of Review Board 309 of the German Research Foundation (Particles, Nuclei and Fields).
From 2022 to 2025, she is an elected member of the Senate and Grants Committee for Collaborative Research Centers of the German Research Foundation.
Also from 2022 to 2025, she is the elected spokesperson of the Theoretical and Mathematical Physics Division of the German Physical Society.
Fearlessly entering the quantum world
Johanna has made physics her own. “At first, I wasn’t very keen on the subject – I didn’t enjoy the lessons,” she admits. Now, as a high school senior taking advanced physics classes, she’s even creating videos about quantum physics for the classroom. “Many school students find their enthusiasm for physics waning in middle school,” she explains. Her “QUANTerial” video series aims to replace this anxiety with curiosity: “Formulas shouldn’t be scary. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a girl or a boy – everyone should feel inquisitive. Quantum physics, in particular, shows us how little we know and how much there’s still left to discover!”
Johanna’s passion for physics was ignited at home. “My mother is a physics teacher, and she always showed me that physics is everywhere. That fascinated me and made me curious – I started asking more and more questions,” Johanna recalls. “I wanted to understand how the world works. It began in kindergarten, when I learned to measure the distance of a thunderstorm by counting the seconds between lightning and thunder.”
The final push to choose physics as an advanced course at school came through MINT-EC, the German Excellence Schools Network, which connects schools with exceptional science, technology, and math programs. “I attended the MINT100 event in Heidelberg, and I loved the physics program so much that I thought: why not study physics after high school?” Johanna is keeping her options open. Whether she’ll become a physics teacher who inspires future students or pursue a doctorate in quantum physics, time will tell. First, though, she has to ace her high school exams – physics included!
Johanna Wüst is currently in the twelfth grade at Carl Benz High School in Ladenburg, where she takes advanced physics classes and is preparing for her final exams.
In 2020, Johanna garnered third place in the German competition “Jugend präsentiert” among 5,500 participants with her presentation “How Can Distances Be Measured with a Clock?” Just three years later, in 2023, Johanna herself was one of the six members of the jury for the national final of this annual competition, which promotes school students’ presentation skills in science and math.
In 2020/2021, she attended Kulturakademie MINT, a talent academy focusing on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) hosted by the Kinderland Baden-Württemberg Foundation.
In 2025, Johanna’s video series QUANTerials will be released. The series bridges traditional school physics curricula with cutting-edge quantum physics and includes behind-the-scenes glimpses of researchers at JMU Würzburg.
Johanna has also secured one of the highly coveted internships at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) for fall 2025. Located in Geneva, Switzerland, CERN is one of the world’s most prestigious scientific research centers.
Quantum physics ambassador
Julia enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for quantum physics. As a postdoctoral researcher at TU Dresden, she not only conducts cutting-edge research but also mentors doctoral students. “I really enjoy supporting PhD candidates and working with undergraduates,” she says. For Julia, physics is enthralling, challenging, and endlessly creative – and that’s exactly what she strives to share with others. “It’s fascinating to describe and understand the processes that happen in nature and to develop predictions about what will happen next.”
Physics has always been one of Julia’s great passions. “I danced ballet, played the flute, and performed in the orchestra, but I really wanted to know where incredible things like rainbows come from.” Her curiosity has taken her far – both scientifically and geographically. Julia’s career in theoretical solid-state physics led her to Canada, where she spent three and a half years conducting research in Vancouver. “I love that physics is so international, offering opportunities around the world. My time in Vancouver was an intense but rewarding experience. I worked on several articles that were published in renowned journals.” Such papers are tangible proof of research success.
It remains to be seen where her career will lead. “In science, there are so many options, whether in academic research, in industry, and I remain endlessly curious.” Whatever happens, Julia wants to contribute to making physics a field where more women and underrepresented groups can thrive.
Julia Link graduated high school in 2007 with top marks, excelling in advanced physics courses. She went on to study physics at Heidelberg University, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2010 and completing her master’s in 2012 with top honors. Her master’s thesis, “Multi-Particle Tunneling in an Optical Lattice,” explored the tunneling effect – a quantum mechanical phenomenon that enables particles to overcome barriers they can’t surmount in classical physics.
From 2013 to 2017, Julia pursued a PhD in physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. During this time, she also gained valuable experience there as a teaching assistant (2013–16).
Her doctoral research, culminating in her thesis “Transport in Isotropic and Anisotropic Dirac Systems” (2017), focused on Dirac semimetals, a class of materials with remarkable electronic properties, including massless and highly mobile particles.
Initially remaining at Karlsruhe as a postdoctoral researcher, in 2018 Julia transferred to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada.
Julia has been a postdoctoral researcher at TU Dresden since 2022. In 2023, she became a principal investigator in the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1143 “Correlated Magnetism: From Frustration to Topology.”
Other career highlights:
2015 to 2017: Awarded a scholarship by the Carl Zeiss Foundation
2015: Conducted research at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, USA
2019–20: Served as Vice President Finance on the Postdoctoral Association Executive Council at Simon Fraser University
2020–22: Research fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG)
Teaches “Quantum Theory for Teachers” at TU Dresden
Co-authored over ten publications in renowned scientific journals (as of December 2024)
Changing our perspective
For Julia, physics is alive – a constantly evolving field where new connections and perspectives are always emerging. At her institute in Grenoble, she’s at the forefront of this dynamic discipline. Julia designs theoretical models to redefine or reinterpret natural processes. “It’s all about concepts implemented by researchers to create or discover fascinating phenomena,” she explains.
“My research focuses on the theoretical physics of condensed matter,” Julia says. One of her tools is topology – a branch of mathematics that has transformed physics over the past few decades. This combination has opened up a new perspective on quantum phenomena and was celebrated with a Nobel Prize in 2016. Topology explores properties of geometric objects that are preserved despite continuous deformation – a concept that can also be applied to electronic states in quantum materials. The phenomena discovered in this way could form the basis for novel technologies.
“I primarily work on topological and superconducting systems,” Julia shares. “I’ve always been drawn to research, and I’m proud to have developed new approaches in my field.” She uses synthetic quantum systems, for example, to “tease out” and analyze topological phases. In complex terms, she models Andreev band structures in Josephson junctions. “These systems connect two or more superconductors via non-superconducting layers. Thanks to the unique band structures, current can flow without resistance – something that couldn’t happen outside the quantum world,” she explains. Julia also emphasizes the need for more diversity in science: “There are still countless unanswered questions in research – and plenty of opportunities for women!”
From 1993 to 1998, Julia Meyer was a member of the German National Academic Foundation, Germany’s oldest and largest organization for fostering gifted students. She earned her physics degree in 1999 from the University of Cologne and completed her doctorate there in 2001 with a thesis titled “Mesoscopic Phenomena Driven by Parallel Magnetic Fields.” In 2000, she also conducted research as a visiting student at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge in the UK.
From 2002 to 2004, Julia continued her research at the University of Minnesota with a Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She stayed in the USA as a postdoc at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois from 2004 to 2005.
From 2004 to 2010, Julia served as an assistant professor at Ohio State University.
In 2009, she received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, recognizing her as an outstanding early-career university faculty member.
That same year, she accepted a professorship at Grenoble Alps University in France, where she still works today. Julia leads a research group at PHELIQS, the Quantum Photonics, Electronics and Engineering Laboratory, which is affiliated with both Grenoble Alps University and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). In 2017, she was also a visiting scientist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the USA. Julia has three grown-up stepchildren.
Throughout her career, Julia has authored over 70 publications (as of December 2024).
Thriving on the freedom to experiment
Merit delves into the world of quantum matter, focusing on oxygen-based compounds. She synthesizes oxides and analyzes their properties in the lab at JMU Würzburg. “We use an effect first discovered by Albert Einstein that earned him a Nobel Prize,” Merit explains. “We shine X-rays onto a sample. Studying its reaction tells us something about its electronic properties. The phenomena we observe could one day contribute to the development of sustainable electronic components.”
“My experimental work is incredibly diverse and gives me a lot of freedom to explore the questions I’m most passionate about for my doctorate,” Merit emphasizes. With access to cutting-edge facilities and extensive collaborations with other research institutes, she has the tools to explore and innovate. If a piece of equipment she needs is unavailable in her lab, she simply takes her samples to a partner institute to continue her experiments.
“When I was doing my master’s, I realized how rewarding it is to see progress in a project for the first time and to have others take an interest in your findings,” says Merit. She’s particularly proud of the results of her thesis: “I demonstrated that two materials that behave like insulators on their own can form a conductive system when they’re brought into direct contact with each other, acting as a heterostructure.” This achievement inspired her to pursue a doctorate on the topic. Curiously, Merit happened upon a career in physics almost by chance. She attended an arts-based high school and only discovered her love for physics in her final years there, thanks to a supportive teacher. “Physics became my favorite subject by far, so I thought, why not study it? A degree in physics opens so many doors.”
When she graduated from high school in 2017, Merit Spring received both the Abitur Prize and the Book Prize from the German Physical Society. She studied physics at JMU Würzburg, completing her bachelor’s in 2020 and her master’s in 2023. As a student assistant, she mentored undergraduates and helped organize the German Physical Society’s Spring Meetings. She also volunteered for JMU Würzburg’s Uni-Schule project.
Merit is currently writing a doctoral thesis about photoemission spectroscopy on correlated oxide heterostructures as part of a collaboration between JMU Würzburg and Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. From 2024 to 2025, she is also taking part in the one-year “Zia – Visible Women in Science” fellowship program, an initiative by the Zeit publishing house that provides training and networking opportunities for young female scientists.
Merit is the deputy equal opportunities officer of the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy. An active member of the aid organization Hand in Hand for Ethiopia, she is also a horse-riding instructor in her free time.
Thriving in her physics community
Nadine has always been passionate about mathematics and physics. Even in school, she pursued advanced courses in both subjects, participated in Math Olympiads, and tackled additional assignments from a society set up to foster young mathematicians. Her enthusiasm and talent earned her several awards, including a physics prize for a school project and the German Physical Society’s school graduation prize for physics. “Studying mathematics felt too abstract and impractical for me,” she recalls. “In the end, I chose physics.”
For her master’s thesis, Nadine chose theoretical quantum information, a field that models the properties, behaviors, and interactions of quantum bits (qubits) – the basic units of computation in quantum computers. “Theoretical work keeps me very close to mathematics,” she explains. Nadine values being part of a supportive and like-minded academic community: “I’ve made great friends at university. We help each other with our studies, and that sense of camaraderie has made me feel at home in physics.”
Nadine’s decision to study physics and embark on her career path wasn’t made all that long ago. For students still figuring out their futures, she has this advice: “Interest and ability aren’t measured by grades alone. When choosing a degree, the most important thing is that you’re passionate about the subject, enjoy it, and can see yourself pursuing a career in that field. If your grades aren’t perfect or you fail an exam, it’s not the end of the world.”
While still in school, Nadine won first prize in the physics category of the Dr. Hans Riegel Prizes in 2019. These prizes, awarded by the Dr. Hans Riegel Foundation in partnership with TU Dresden, honor outstanding pre-scientific work by high school students in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics.
After graduating high school with top marks and excelling in advanced courses in math and physics, she was awarded the German Physical Society’s Graduation Prize for Physics in 2021.
Nadine studied physics at TU Dresden on leaving high school and earned her bachelor’s degree in 2024. She is currently completing her master’s in Dresden in the Theoretical Quantum Optics research group.
Inspired by her role models
Romana didn’t always love physics. “At first, I didn’t enjoy it at all,” she admits. “But in the tenth grade, I had an inspiring physics teacher who really motivated me.” That encouragement set her on a path that led to her earning a bachelor’s degree and now pursuing a master’s in quantum technology at JMU Würzburg. “The foundation courses weren’t easy for me and I had to work hard. But I enjoyed the challenge and am proud of earning my first degree.”
For her master’s program, Romana chose experimental physics. “I love experimenting in the lab,” she says. Her current research involves producing atomically thin monolayers and exploring their electronic structure as part of her master’s thesis. “There’s nothing quite like the moment when you successfully measure a physical phenomenon or uncover previously unknown properties of material systems. It’s incredibly rewarding.” Romana draws additional motivation from connecting with other women in physics. She participates in events hosted by the Grete Hermann Network, which links female researchers in condensed matter physics around the world. Named after German mathematician, physicist, philosopher, and educator Grete Hermann (1901–1984), the network provides a space for collaboration and inspiration. “I’ve met fascinating women at these events, including professors of experimental physics, my own field,” Romana shares. “They’re real role models for me.”
Still at the beginning of her academic journey, Romana is focused on her next milestone: completing her master’s degree. “I’m not sure yet what will come after that,” she says. “Sometimes, I think pursuing a doctorate would be an exciting path for me.”
After graduating from high school in 2018, with math and physics among her exam subjects, Romana began studying mathematics at JMU Würzburg.
In 2019, she switched to physics, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nanostructure technology, which she successfully completed in 2023. Since 2023, Romana has been a master’s student in quantum technology, also at Jmu Würzburg.
Exploring the electron ballet
Vidya wants to see how particles “dance” in the quantum world. Using a scanning tunneling microscope, she peeks into this realm to observe the behavior of electrons – tiny particles that are fundamental to all matter. “When many of these quantum particles interact, it’s like a ballet performance,” Vidya explains. “Together, they can do things an individual particle can’t. This collective behavior is astonishing and full of surprises.”
In her lab, Vidya and her team meticulously grow ultra-thin material samples atom by atom. These samples enable her to investigate the mysterious choreography of electrons through carefully designed and controlled experiments. “Quantum materials with new, extremely complex properties that are difficult to predict theoretically can arise from the nuances of this collective behavior,” explains Vidya. “It’s thrilling to uncover these phenomena and explore the mechanisms behind them.” One of the remarkable effects of collective electron behavior is superconductivity, where electricity flows without resistance or energy loss.
Vidya’s journey to a career in physics wasn’t a direct one. She began her academic path in engineering. “I loved math, science, and physics in school, but I never considered physics as a career – I wanted to be an engineer,” she recalls. Only after completing her undergraduate studies did she realize that physics was her passion: “I wanted to answer fundamental questions about how nature works.” She also embraces the challenges of her work. “Not every experiment succeeds,” Vidya says. “If you don’t fail occasionally, you’re not taking risks. And without risks, there’s no innovation. The key is to keep moving forward after a failure.”
Vidya Madhavan earned a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras in 1991. She then completed a master’s in solid-state materials at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi in 1993.
In 2000, Vidya completed her doctorate at Boston University in the United States. From 1999 to 2002, she conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. It was during this time that she gave birth to her two children. Following this, she served as a research associate in the Department of Physics at Boston College from 2002 to 2014.
In 2007, Vidya received the prestigious Nsf career Award from the National Science Foundation, which supports promising early-career university faculty members.
In 2014, she was appointed professor of condensed matter physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Uiuc), where she continues to lead research and teach.
Vidya was elected a fellow of the American Physical Society in 2015. She has been an Experimental Investigator with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation since 2020 and a fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research since 2021.
In 2023, Vidya was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In recognition of her outstanding research, in October 2024 Vidya was appointed Donald Biggar Willett Professor of Engineering in Physics by the Grainger College of Engineering at Uiuc. This honor, awarded for an indefinite period, is among the highest accolades a faculty member can receive.
Vidya has authored around 70 articles in prominent publications (as of December 2024).