As one of the designated spokespersons for ML4Q’s next funding phase, Alex shares behind-the-scenes insights into managing this large-scale effort — just days before the final decision in May 2025.
We also explore his enduring fascination with foundational concepts in physics, spanning quantum field theory, quantum chaos, and topological matter. Alongside his research, Alex reflects on the importance of conceptual clarity in teaching, textbook writing, and his path from chemistry (and a brief detour into business consulting) to becoming a deeply theoretical physicist.
Listen to the full podcast episode with Alex here or using your podcatcher.
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:32 Mentors and idols in early career
00:03:07 On being a conceptual physicist
00:06:56 On becoming a professor
00:12:20 First thoughts on quantum information theory
00:15:07 Quantum information theory vs. condensed matter physics
00:17:42 On the impact of quantum computation in physical sciences
00:22:49 On the structure of Clusters of Excellence
00:25:23 New projects within ML4Q – the transmon story
00:31:21 Working on the renewal proposal of ML4Q
00:42:45 On writing a textbook on Condensed Matter Quantum Field Theory
00:49:32 What about universality?
00:53:50 Discussing non-standard symmetry and ongoing Majorana research
01:02:26 On teaching mathematics
While recording, Alex Jahn – who is not only a talented web designer and a great podcast editor but obviously a gifted illustrator – made this drawing of the recording session:
Previous ML4Q&A episodes:
New podcast episode with Tommaso Calarco
In our new season we feature members of the cluster who are working at the intersection to other stakeholders in the larger quantum community. In this episode, we talk to Tommaso Calarco, Director of the PGI Institute for Quantum Control at Forschungszentrum Jülich,...
New podcast episode with Jan Klos
We continue to feature some of our experimental physicists. In this episode, we talk to Jan Klos, PhD student and associated member of ML4Q. Jan - who is almost done with his PhD thesis - performed his project in the group of Hendrik Bluhm and Lars Schreiber at the...
New podcast episode with Annika Kurzmann
We continue to feature some of our experimental physicists. In this episode, we talk to Annika Kurzmann, Junior Principle Investigator at RWTH Aachen and associated member of ML4Q. We discuss her work on optical quantum dots during her PhD and bilayer graphene...
ML4Q&A with Beata Kardynal
We continue to feature some of our experimental physicists. In this episode, we talk to Beata Kardynal, group leader at Forschungszentrum Jülich and at RWTH Aachen. We discuss her career and her training in electronic devices to using these devices to couple to...
ML4Q&A with Rami Barends – tune in our new podcast episode!
ML4Q&A now moves on to feature some of our experimental physicists and we start with Rami Barends, recently appointed head of the Institute for Functional Quantum Systems at Forschungszentrum Jülich and associated member of ML4Q. Chris (postdoc in the Ando...
New podcast episode with Kathrin Dorn
ML4Q&A continues featuring theoretical physicists in ML4Q. In the fourth episode, Federico Grasselli (Postdoc, Bruss group) speaks to Kathrin Dorn, PhD student in the group of Reinhold Egger, head of the Institute for Theoretical Physcs IV in Düsseldorf. They talk...