The CZS Center QPhoton is a cross-location and interdisciplinary research center. All scientists working full-time or on a fee basis at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Ulm University, or the University of Stuttgart who are members of one of the profile-building centers Abbe Center of Photonics (as a ‘Principal Scientist’) or the Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology IQST (as a ‘Fellow’) are also members of the CZS Center QPhoton. They are invited to network meetings, can apply for calls for proposals for innovation projects, and thus play a key role in shaping the direction of research.
Principal Scientists
Prof. Dr. Joachim Ankerhold, Institute for Complex Quantum Systems, Ulm UniversityInnovation Project: Photonic devices hybridized with atomic vapors for quantum information processing (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Innovation Project: Atomic vapor integration for quantum optics on the lithium niobate on insulator platform (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Prof. Dr. Michael Börsch, AG Mikroskopie-Methodik, Universitätsklinikum JenaInnovation Project: Directed quantum sensing of elevated temperatures at active zones inside a single living cell (07/2025 - 06/2027)
Innovation Project: NV- qubit for precise sensing of rotational and translational mobilities of active proteins (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Dr. Falk Eilenberger, Institut für Angewandte Physik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Mie Void Quantum Metasurfaces with 2D TMDs as Scalable Quantum Platform (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Innovation Project: HoloQ - Developing novel holographic methods for applications with ultracold atoms (06/2024 - 05/2026)
Dr. Patrick Emonts, Institut für Komplexe Quantensysteme, Universität UlmCZS Junior Research Group: Quantum Information and Many-Body Physics (04/2025 - 03/2030)
Innovation Project: Many-body Atom Gates In Cold-atom Quantum Computers (MAGICQ) (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Prof. Dr. Laëetitia Farinacci, Universität Würzburg und Institut für Funktionelle Materie und Quantentechnologien (FMQ), Universität StuttgartCZS Center Junior Research Group: Dynamic Control at the Atomic Scale (02/2024 - 01/2030)
Dr. Zlata Fedorova, Abbe Center for Photonics, Institut für Festkörperphysik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Mie Void Quantum Metasurfaces with 2D TMDs as Scalable Quantum Platform (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Prof. Dr. Martin Gärttner, Institut für Festkörpertheorie und Optik, Frichdrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Many-body Atom Gates In Cold-atom Quantum Computers (MAGICQ) (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Prof. Dr. Harald Giessen, 4. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: HoloQ - Developing novel holographic methods for applications with ultracold atoms (06/2024 - 05/2026)
Prof. Dr. Johannes Hecker Denschlag, Institut für Quantenmaterie, Universität UlmInnovation Project: HoloQ - Developing novel holographic methods for applications with ultracold atoms (06/2024 - 05/2026)
Dr. Mario Hentschel, 4. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Mie Void Quantum Metasurfaces with 2D TMDs as Scalable Quantum Platform (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Prof. Dr. Sungkun Hong, Institut für Funktionelle Materie und Quantentechnologien FMQ, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Levitated photonic microrotors in the quantum regime (08/2024 - 07/2026)
Prof. Dr. Fedor Jelezko, Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität UlmInnovation Project: Directed quantum sensing of elevated temperatures at active zones inside a single living cell (07/2025 - 06/2027)
Innovation Project: NV- qubit for precise sensing of rotational and translational mobilities of active proteins (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Dr. Jonas Junker, Abbe Center of Photonics, Frichdrich-Schiller-Universität JenaCZS Junior Research Group: Real-Time Coherent Control for Scalable Photonic Quantum Systems (01/2026 - 12/2030)
Prof. Dr. Anke Krüger, Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project:Directed quantum sensing of elevated temperatures at active zones inside a single living cell (07/2025 - 06/2027)
Innovation Project: NV- qubit for precise sensing of rotational and translational mobilities of active proteins (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Prof. Dr. Alexander Kubanek, Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität UlmInnovation Project: Mie Void Quantum Metasurfaces with 2D TMDs as Scalable Quantum Platform (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Dr. Robert Löw, 5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Photonic devices hybridized with atomic vapors for quantum information processing (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Dr. Florian Meinert, 5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Many-body Atom Gates In Cold-atom Quantum Computers (MAGICQ) (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Dr. Ciprian Padurariu, Institut für Komplexe Quantensysteme, Universität UlmInnovation Project: Superconducting transparent thin films for quantum technologies (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Innovation Project: Infrared single-photon detection via superconducting nanowires tailored by disorder, temperature, and magnetic field (04/2023-03/2025)
Prof. Dr. Thomas Pertsch, Institut für Angewandte Physik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Levitated photonic microrotors in the quantum regime (08/2024 - 07/2026)
Prof. Dr. Tilman Pfau, 5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Many-body Atom Gates In Cold-atom Quantum Computers (MAGICQ) (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Innovation Project: Atomic vapor integration for quantum optics on the lithium niobate on insulator platform (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Dr. Ressa Said, Institut für Komplexe Quantensysteme, Universität UlmInnovation Project: Superconducting transparent thin films for quantum technologies (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Prof. Dr. Sina Saravi, Universität Paderborn, vormals: Institut für Angewandte Physik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Atomic vapor integration for quantum optics on the lithium niobate on insulator platform (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Dr.Marc Scheffler, 1. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Superconducting transparent thin films for quantum technologies (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Innovation Project:Infrared single-photon detection via superconducting nanowires tailored by disorder, temperature, and magnetic field (04/2023-03/2025)
Prof. Dr. Heidemarie Krüger (geb. Schmid), Leibniz-IPHT e. V JenaInnovation Project: Infrared single-photon detection via superconducting nanowires tailored by disorder, temperature, and magnetic field (04/2023-03/2025)
PD Dr. habil. Frank Setzpfandt, Abbe Center of Photonics,, Frichdrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Photonic devices hybridized with atomic vapors for quantum information processing (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Prof. Dr. Fabian Steinlechner, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University JenaQPhoton-Professorship ‘Experimental Quantum Information’
Prof. Dr. Benjamin Stickler, Institut für Komplexe Quantensysteme, Universität UlmInnovation Project: Levitated photonic microrotors in the quantum regime (08/2024 - 07/2026)
QPhoton-Professorship ‘Theory of light-matter interaction’
Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann, Institut für Angewandte Physik, Frichdrich-Schiller-Universität JenaInnovation Project: Superconducting transparent thin films for quantum technologies (01/2026 - 12/2027)
Dr. Stephan Welte, 5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartCZS Junior Research Group: Quantum Network Node (08/2024 - 07/2029)
Prof. Dr. Jörg Wrachtrup, 3. Physikalisches Institut, Universität StuttgartInnovation Project: Directed quantum sensing of elevated temperatures at active zones inside a single living cell (07/2025 - 06/2027)
Innovation Project: NV- qubit for precise sensing of rotational and translational mobilities of active proteins (06/2023 - 05/2025)
Prof. Dr. Jonas Ziegler, Institute of Quantum Matter, Ulm UniversityQPhoton-Professorship ‘Experimental Solid State Physics’ from 04/2026
