Andrea Trabattoni, a scientist at CFEL, DESY, and W2 professor for Ultrafast Photoelectron Research at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), has been awarded a Niedersachsen-Impuls-Professorship. This prestigious funding is aimed at advancing his career by expanding his expertise, refining his professional profile, and preparing him for future leadership roles in science. Additionally, the grant is set to strengthen the already close collaboration between DESY and LUH, enhancing their joint research efforts and fostering new synergies in the field of ultrafast electron dynamics.

Trabattoni, who was appointed Associate Professor for Ultrafast Photoelectron Research at LUH in May 2024, holds a concurrent position at DESY as a group leader. His research intersects closely with the Optical Technologies focus area within the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence, and the funding will enable further integration of the two institutions’ research. Together with scientists at the Institute of Quantum Optics, Trabattoni is pioneering new methods in areas such as laser-based X-ray sources and extreme ultraviolet meta-optics.

 

With the Niedersachsen Impuls Professorship grant of €1,741,600, Trabattoni plans to establish a state-of-the-art laser laboratory at LUH, which will be a key facility for imaging electron dynamics in matter with ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolution. This new infrastructure will not only propel his own research but also serve as a hub for collaborative projects between DESY and LUH, strengthening their joint research capabilities and expanding their collective expertise in ultrafast photoelectron science.

 

The Niedersachsen Impuls Professorship is part of the “zukunft.niedersachsen” program, a funding initiative by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation. This program is designed to support early-career researchers at Lower Saxony’s universities, helping to attract and retain exceptional academics while strengthening the region’s academic sector.

 

Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister of Culture and Science, commented: "I am convinced that with Andrea Trabattoni, LUH has gained a particularly qualified junior researcher who will not only enhance its cutting-edge research profile but also strengthen its Clusters of Excellence. His work will significantly contribute to the broader application of future technologies across science, teaching, and industry, while also expanding the research infrastructure for all of Lower Saxony. "

 

 Trabattoni’s groundbreaking research has already earned him numerous accolades. In 2016, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation awarded him a research fellowship, which led him to begin his work at DESY in Hamburg. During this period, he investigated the motion of electrons in molecules under the influence of ultra-intense laser fields, then became a team leader within the attosecond research group from 2018 to 2021.

 

In 2021, he received funding from the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers as part of its Young Investigator Group Programme, allowing him to establish his own research group at DESY focused on photo-induced electron dynamics in nuclear transitions. In 2022, Trabattoni was awarded an ERC Starting Grant and accepted a junior professorship at LUH. He became a member of the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence and, in May 2024, was appointed Professor of Ultrafast Photoelectron Research.

 

Though appointed at LUH, Trabattoni continues to conduct research at DESY: "I complement my research on photo-induced electron dynamics in matter with the unique table-top and large-scale facilities accessible in Hamburg. PETRA III, the free-electron lasers FLASH and the European XFEL represent unique opportunities to study the quantum control of matter at unprecedented levels."