EDPY News and events

© 2025 ADN

2025 Physics Doctoral Thesis Award & Distinction 8%

— Established in 2014, the Physics Doctoral Thesis Award (EDPY Prize) is presented each year to PhD students whose research stands out for its exceptional scientific merit. The prize recognizes theses that have significantly advanced our understanding of physics, whether through groundbreaking theoretical insights, innovative experimental techniques, or impactful interdisciplinary contributions. It highlights not only the quality of the scientific results, but also the originality, rigor, and overall influence of the work within the broader physics community.

Dr Arnaud Magrez (right) receiving the R. & R. Haenny Award from Prof. Véronique Michaud, Chair of the Board of the Rodolphe and Renée Haenny Foundation. © Lundi13

Arnaud Magrez awarded the 2025 Rodolphe and Renée Haenny Prize

— The Rodolphe and Renée Haenny Foundation awarded its prize to Dr Arnaud Magrez, senior scientist at the Institute of Physics and head of the Crystal Growth Facility at EPFL.

Vincenzo Savona, head of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Nanosystems. 2025 EPFL/Murielle Gerber- CC-BY-SA 4.0

“Quantum mechanics is the theory of everything”

— Vincenzo Savona, head of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Nanosystems, discovered a passion for quantum physics while learning about semiconductors. He took some time out to share his insights into the field, which he’s been teaching at EPFL for over 20 years.

Crédit : Mohammad Bereyhi

Gilbert Hausmann Award – 2025 – Nick Sauerwein

— A Cavity-Microscope for Quantum Simulations with Locally-Controllable All-to-All Interactions EPFL thesis n°10108 Thesis director: Prof. Jean-Philippe Brantut

© Julien Gacon

IBM Research Award – 2025 – Julien Gacon

— Scalable Quantum Algorithms for Noisy Quantum Computers EPFL thesis n°11132 Thesis directors: Prof. Giuseppe Carleo, Dr Stefan Woerner


Past & present at one table…
EDPY Program directors (left to right): Prof. O. Schneider (2009 – 2014), Prof. V. Savona (2015 – 2018), Prof. F. Mila (2018 – present)

Klaus Kern celebrates the 100th thesis of his laboratory!

For the past 28 years, Klaus Kern has directed his doctoral students, young researchers in the training phase, leaving them all the freedom required to be successful in developing their ideas.

This important milestone, a first at EPFL, highlights not only the huge research activity led in his laboratory, but also his qualities in attracting talented scientists to our school.

Indeed, one of the important roles of laboratories hosted by academic institutions such as EPFL is to train the next generation of scientists and leaders be it in the fields of academic research, entrepreneurship, or the society at large.

In the frame of the Doctoral Program in Physics, we wish him a successful continuation to this 100th and we congratulate him and all the people in his department for this exceptional achievement.

 
Photo: Shai Mangel (EDMX – 100th), Klaus Kern, Anna M. Roslawska (EDPY – 99th)