Francesca Ferlaino studied physics at the University of Federico II in Napoli and she then moved to Trieste, where she studied for her theoretical diploma thesis at the SISSA.  She then started her PhD in Florence (Italy) at LENS on experiments with ultracold quantum gases, receiving her PhD degree in 2004. Francesca spent two additional years at LENS as a PostDoc before coming to Innsbruck in 2006 as a visiting scientist.

At the beginning, her stay was planned only for 3 months. The 3 months became 6. The 6 months 1 year. 1 year easily doubled to 2 years, and the 2 years doubled again, and again :). Francesca is now Full Professor at the University of Innsbruck and Research Director at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the ÖAW.  She is also member of the Board of Directors of the Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Science Austria”.

Her experimental research activity focuses on quantum simulation with quantum gases of strongly magnetic atoms. Ferlaino and her group realized in 2012 the first worldwide Bose-Einstein condensate of Erbium and since then she studied exotic quantum phases of matter, including the long-awaited observation of a novel state of matter called supersolid.

Her work has earned her multiple awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix de Physique "Cécile-DeWitt Morette” from the French Academy of Science, the Erwin Schrödinger Prize, the Junior BEC Award, the Fritz-Kohlrausch Prize for experimental physics, and three ERC grants.

Aside from physics, Francesca has spent a lot of time travelling around (more than 60 different states), behind the objective of her photo camera, and with her family.

Link to work group.