Poetri Sonya Tarabunga | Meet the MCQSTians: In this series, we regularly feature members of the MCQST community and offer insights into their research and career.

Poetri Sonya Tarabunga obtained a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics from the Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia. This was followed by a one-year Postgraduate Diploma Programme at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy. Poetri then pursued a PhD in Statistical Physics at SISSA, Italy, under the supervision of Dr. Marcello Dalmonte.

After completing the PhD in 2024, Poetri joined the Condensed Matter Theory group at the Technical University of Munich as an MCQST Distinguished Postdoc. Her research focuses on the intersection of quantum many-body theory and quantum information, using both analytical and numerical methods.

Can you briefly explain your research project? What are your main research goals?

My research has been centered on investigating the complexity of quantum many-body systems by applying tools from quantum information theory. By now, the study of quantum information concepts in the realm of many-body theory represents a very active research effort, with a prominent example being entanglement, which has revolutionized our understanding of quantum systems. My work aims to deepen our understanding of another crucial quantum information quantity known as nonstabilizerness, which is much less understood. In particular, I have been developing methods based on tensor networks and Quantum Monte Carlo to enable the quantification of nonstabilizerness at large scales.

How does your day-to-day looks like? What keeps you excited to continue working on your project each day?

My research is primarily theoretical, employing both numerical and analytical approaches. Most of the tasks I typically perform include writing code for numerical simulations, proving mathematical theorems, writing papers, and discussing research with collaborators, among other activities. Additionally, I usually check new papers posted on arXiv daily, as I find it important to stay up-to-date with current research and potentially generate new ideas.
I have a genuine interest in the research topics that I am working on, and a passion for science and research in general. Therefore, having the excitement to continue working on my project just comes naturally to me. What I love about research is the challenge of tackling difficult problems that no one has solved before, and the prospect of discovering new things that are relevant to our scientific understanding.

Did you always want to be a (quantum) scientist when you were younger? Moreover, if you weren't a scientist, what do you think you would be doing now?

I have always been fascinated by science, particularly mathematics, since I was a child. I participated in numerous math competitions in high school, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, I initially pursued engineering in my bachelor's, where I encountered some physics courses that reignited my passion for science, particularly quantum physics. This led me to switch to physics after completing my bachelor's, and I am very grateful to have made that decision. I find it fascinating that science can explain the complex world, and I am excited to contribute to our scientific knowledge. It feels like living the dream to have a career that I truly enjoy doing. If I weren’t a scientist, I would most likely have become an engineer now.

"I find it fascinating that science can explain the complex world, and I am excited to contribute to our scientific knowledge."

What drew you to Munich (and MCQST)?

Munich is one of the premier locations for research in quantum information and condensed matter physics, the two fields in which I specialize. Moreover, there are many great researchers and graduate students, and it is a really stimulating research environment.

What advice would you give to other young researchers who are just starting their academic or scientific careers?

I would advise to follow your passion and find something that you genuinely enjoy doing. I think in the early stages of a scientific career, it is really important to explore different topics and identify the areas that you are most interested in. When you are truly excited about what you are working on, research becomes not just “work” but also a genuine passion, which makes it a lot more enjoyable.

Find out more aboout the Distinguished Postdoc Fellowship and Poetri's research.