On June 3, 2025, Hannes Bernien and Hannes Pichler gave their inaugural lectures at the University of Innsbruck, presenting their research programs to a large and interested audience. Both physicists were jointly appointed by the University and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and now serve as professors at the University of Innsbruck and scientific directors at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI).
“With the appointments of Prof. Bernien and Prof. Pichler, we continue the success story of quantum physics in Innsbruck and further strengthen our position as a leading center for fundamental research in physics,” said Veronika Sexl, Rector of the University of Innsbruck, during the welcome address.
Prof. Bernien presented his platform based on neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers — a modular system enabling the construction of scalable quantum architectures. Prof. Pichler discussed possible applications of such systems in quantum simulation, quantum optimization, and computing.
The two scientists share a long-standing academic connection from their time at Harvard University, which has evolved into a productive and ongoing scientific collaboration.
Photos from the event can be viewed at the following link.