PSI Quantum Hub Members

Cornelius Hempel, Group Leader
I studied physics at Martin Luther University as well as the University of Michigan, and obtained my PhD at the University of Innsbruck (Supervisors: Prof. Rainer Blatt and Dr. Christian Roos). Following a short postdoc at the Institut for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), I moved to the Quantum Control Laboratory at the University of Sydney (Prof. Michael Biercuk), where I was project lead for the IARPA LogiQ program and later became principal investigator in the ytterbium laboratory. I was promoted to Senior Research Fellow (equivalent to research associate professor in the US) in 2020. Since April 2021, I lead the Ion Trap Quantum Computation group at the external pageETH Zürich PSI Quantum Computing Hubcall_made within the external pageLaboratory for Nano- and Quantumtechnology (LNQ)call_made.

tel: +41 56 310 56 35
email: cornelius.hempel(at)psi.ch

Julian Schmidt, Tenure Track Scientist
For my diploma and PhD theses, I worked on ions in optical traps of ions and their interaction with ultracold atoms at the University of Freiburg (group of Tobias Schätz). To study molecules with even higher precision, I moved to the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel for a postdoc, where I trapped and sympathetically cooled hydrogen molecular ions in the group of Laurent Hilico. During this time, a novel method for molecular ion spectroscopy based on quantum logic operations was being pursued by James Chou and Dietrich Leibfried in the Ion Storage Group at NIST. I joined the NIST group in 2020 for a postdoc to learn more about this technique and set up a new cryogenic experiment dedicated to studying molecular ions. Excited by the prospects of scaling up quantum computers and establishing quantum technologies at a large research facility like PSI, I joined the Trapped Ion Quantum Computing group as a Staff Scientist (Tenure Track) in February 2023.

tel: +41 56 310 34 99
email: julian.schmidt(at)psi.ch
 

Flavia Timpu, Optical engineer
I received my PhD at ETH Zürich under the supervision of Prof. Rachel Grange. Initially focused on nanoscale sources for nonlinear optics, my research interests brought me to integrated photonics and the challenge of using novel materials to achieve new functionalities in small devices.
I joined TIQI as part of the PSI Quantum Computing Hub since May 2021. I am mainly interested in the scaling of quantum computers. For this I am working on finding the best photonics solutions for light delivery to trapped ions and developing a design-and-test integrated photonics platform tailored for trapped ion quantum computing.

tel.: +41 56 310 22 84
email: flavia.timpu(at)psi.ch

Michael Nydegger, Embedded Software Engineer
After the MSc in biomedical engineering at the University of Bern, I spent some years developing mixed-signal integrated circuits and FPGA designs. During my recent studies for the BSc in Physics at ETH Zürich, I learned about quantum information processing and its tight connection to electrical engineering. Since January 2022 I'm working on laser control and monitoring systems for TIQI and the PSI Quantum Computing Hub.

tel: +41 44 633 09 53
email: michael.nydegger(at)psi.ch

Michael Marti, Electrical Engineer
I received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's degree in quantum engineering from ETH Zurich. During both the QuanTech workshop and my master's thesis, I worked on improvements to the experimental control system here in the group.
I'm interested in electronics, signal processing and control theory, and quantum information processing. Although I am employed at the Quantum Computing hub (PSI), I will regularly roam the hallways of HPF.

tel: +41 44 633 09 53
email: michael.marti(at)psi.ch

Mose Müller, Software Engineer

As a software developer at Trapped Ion Quantum Information Group, I combine my physics background with a passion for software development. I completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees in physics at ETH Zurich, with semester and master's projects in this group. These projects sparked my interest in software development and led me to my current role. My tasks are diverse and include database maintenance, the development of a Python framework for data services and the development of new control software for the TIQI group.

email: mose.mueller(at)psi.ch

Stephan Siegrist, Mechanical Engineer
I have been working as a polymechanic since my apprenticeship and have thus gained extensive knowledge in the field of mechanics. At ETH Zurich, I have trained apprentices and supported students in constructions and the production of assemblies. This knowledge, in combination with my further education as a technical college graduate in mechanical engineering, supports the Quantum Computing HUB in terms of constructions, setting up infrastructure, and production methods for various laboratory setups.

tel: +41 56 310 32 72
email: stephan.siegrist(at)psi.ch
 

Robin Oswald, Post-doctoral research assistant

During my Physics BSc at ETH I joined the TIQI group for a semester project. Afterwards, I switched to a MSc focused on control engineering. As it turns out manipulating quantum systems requires very fine control, so I rejoined the group for my Master's thesis. Having enjoyed the wide range of practical challenges, I decided to continue towards a PhD.

email: roswald(at)phys.ethz.ch

Edgar Brucke, Phd Student
My interest in trapped ions and quantum information technologies started during my undergraduate studies at Oxford.
After my master's project about interferometric distance measurement and a brief detour into trapped ion optical clocks, I decided to join TIQI as member of the PSI Quantum Computing Hub.
I am particularly interested in the implementation and demonstration of quantum error correction, though some interest in metrology remains.

tel: +41 44 633 09 53
email: ebrucke(at)phys.ethz.ch
 

Philip Leindecker, Phd Student
I studied physics at TU Vienna for my Bachelor and continued my Master at ETH Zurich. During my first semester at ETH I got intrigued by the field of quantum optics and quantum information, which lead me to completing my Master thesis in the Quantum Optics Group of Prof. Tilman Esslinger on spatial light modulation for a Bose-Einstein condensate in optical cavities. Now in my PhD I am part of the ETHZ-PSI Quantum Computing Hub where I am focusing on scaling up trapped ion quantum computing.

tel: +41 44 633 09 53
email: pleindecker(at)student.ethz.ch

Tereza Viskova, PhD Student
I did my MSc in Nanotechnology at KTH Stockholm and initially came to Switzerland for an exchange year and a master thesis at EPFL, where I focused on quantum information and metrology. After completing my thesis on a scalable readout of Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors, I went to IQM Finland for an internship where I got the chance to contribute to the efforts of scaling up the QPU. This experience lead me to decide to focus on scalable quantum computing and join the ETHZ- PSI Quantum Computing Hub for my PhD.

tel: +41 56 310 57 02
email: tereza.viskova(at)psi.ch
 

Jolan Tissier, PhD Student
It is during my engineering degree in CentraleSupélec (Paris-Saclay) that I discovered quantum computing and its challenges, through the ARTeQ program (Year of Research in Quantum Technologies). This led me to discover trapped ions for quantum communication in Prof. Tracy Northup’s group at the University of Innsbruck and brought me to the ETHZ-PSI Quantum Computing Hub after my Master. Now I am impatient to contribute to scalable trapped-ion quantum computing.

tel: +41 56 310 43 08
email: jolan.tissier(at)psi.ch