Recognizing Excellent Early-Career Research
The MCQST PhD Award annually honors two outstanding PhD theses from the MCQST community. The prize recognizes excellence in research at an early career stage, with the intention of inspiring awardees to pursue a further career in science.
MCQST acknowledges exceptional theses in Quantum Science and Technology that have received a summa cum laude grade. These theses demonstrate an innovative and cutting-edge approach within the chosen topic or field of study, outstanding personal contributions, and creativity. Consideration is given to theses from various disciplines including physics, mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, material science, and chemistry. Both LMU and TUM submissions are eligible.
We thank last year's sponsors,
PlanQC and
Qlibri, for offering a prize money of €2000 for the 2024 awardees!
Eligibility
MCQST acknowledges exceptional theses in Quantum Science and Technology with
- a summa cum laude grade
- a defense date between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2025
- a letter of recommendation by an MCQST PI supporting the application
Award ceremony
Awards will be announced on April 21 in conjunction with the MCQST Colloquium at MPQ.
The winners are invited to present a brief overview of their work to the MCQST community.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form until March 31 (23:59 CEST).
Required documents (all PDF):
- Abstract of thesis
- PhD certificate
- CV
- List of publications
- Thesis full text (or link containing URL)
In addition, we require a letter of reference by an MCQST PI. The letter must be sent directly to support[at]mcqst.de by the supporting PI before the deadline expires.
Application deadline for the 2025 award: March 31, 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Questions? Contact support[at]mcqst.de.
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Awardees
Yujie Liu
MCQST PhD Award 2024:
Realization and characterization of topological phases of matter on a digital quantum computer
Affiliation: TUM
Advisor:
Frank Pollmann
Read more in the
MCQST news section.
Philip Thomas
MCQST PhD Award 2024:
Photonic graph state generation from individual atoms in an optical cavity
Affiliation: MPQ
Advisor:
Gerhard Rempe
Read more on the
MCQST news section.
Arthur Christianen
MCQST PhD Award 2023:
Chemistry in a quantum medium
MPI of Quantum Optics & TU Munich
Advisor:
Prof. Ignacio Cirac
David Wei
MCQST PhD Award 2023:
Microscopy of spin hydrodynamics and cooperative light scattering in atomic Hubbard systems
MPI of Quantum Optics & LMU München
Advisor:
Prof. Immanuel Bloch
Johannes Feldmeier
MCQST PhD Award 2022:
Nonequilibrium Dynamics in Constrained Quantum Many-Body Systems
TU Munich
Advisor:
Michael Knap
Annabelle Bohrdt
MCQST PhD Award 2021:
Probing Strongly Correlated Many-Body Systems with Quantum Simulation
TU Munich
Advisor:
Michael Knap
Benjamin Merkel
MCQST PhD Award 2021:
Enhancing the Emission and Coherence of Erbium Dopants
MPI of Quantum Optics & TU Munich
Advisor:
Andreas Reiserer
Johannes Knörzer
MCQST PhD Award 2020:
Semiconductor-Based Electron Lattices for Quantum Information Processing
LMU München & MPI of Quantum Optics
Advisor:
J. Ignacio Cirac
Karen Wintersperger
MCQST PhD Award 2020:
Realization of Floquet Topological Systems with Ultracold Atoms in Optical Honeycomb Lattices
LMU München
Advisor:
Monika Aidelsburger