Pathways in Physics: Prof. Dr. Christiane Koch - Stepping forward towards a professorship
Prof. Dr. Christiane Koch
Christiane Koch studied physics at Humboldt University and earned her doctorate at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society. As a young scientist, she participated in numerous research projects in Germany, Israel and France. Since 2019, Christiane Koch has been a professor of theoretical physics at Freie Universität.
Christiane Koch will talk about her pathway from leading an Emmy Noether junior group towards a professorship at the Freie Universität. How can one become a professor? What is important for a successful career in academia and research?
Meet Prof. Dr. Christiane Koch
My research group works on quantum control, i.e. quantum mechanical objects such as atoms and molecules controlled by light. Atoms and molecules are not only small particles, they also show wave properties. The superposition of such matter waves leads, for example, to the fact that a molecule can be in several places at the same time. This is not only fascinating but provides the basis for a broad range of applications, e.g. high-precision measurements of brain activity or unbreakable encryption. To enable such applications, light or an electromagnetic wave from other spectral ranges must be formed in such a way that it drives the desired dynamics. In our research, we calculate these shapes precisely.
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Milestones
1992 - 1998 Studies at the Humboldt University
1998 - 2002 Doctorate at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society
2003 - 2006 Research stays in France & Israel
2006 - 2010 Head of an Emmy Noether junior research group at Freie Universität
2010 - 2019 Professor for Theoretical Physics at the University of Kassel
since 2019 Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Free University of Berlin
My advice to future physicists
As a physicist with training in state of the art research, you have obtained a comprehensive education and acquired essential skills that allow you to work creatively and independently both inside and outside of academia.Further Information
Event Language: English
About "Pathways in Physics"
In the online talk series for students of physics, different speakers will talk about their own pathway in physics: why they became physicists, how they recognized what their interests in physics were and how they went about getting positions in research and industry. We invite speakers from the Department of Physics, different research institutions as well as from various industries.