SpeakerChristoph Renner

Christoph Renner is professor of physics at the department of quantum matter physics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He is leading a research group investigating quantum ground states and their interplay in low dimensional correlated electron systems using scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy. Prior to joining Geneva in 2007, he was appointed senior and then principal research fellow at University College London (UCL), with affiliations in the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN), the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and the Department of Medicine. During his time in London, he was also a business fellow of the London Technology Network. Before moving to UCL, he was appointed visiting scientist at the NEC Research Institute in Princeton.

With over 30 years of experience, Prof. Renner is an expert in developing and applying variable temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy to study correlated electron materials, in particular superconducting, charge ordered and topological systems. His research is published in leading academic journals and has been selected as a physics highlight of 2017 by the editors of Physics. Currently, his team is focusing on high temperature superconductors and spectroscopy of tuneable electronic properties in transition metal dichalcogenides and devices thereof by means of strain, space charge doping and thickness.

Interested in public outreach, Prof. Renner was director of the Physiscope of the University of Geneva between 2007 and 2017. Since 2014, he is president of the Scienscope, an initiative introducing junior and high school children as well as the public to science in a hands-on and entertaining manner. Prof. Renner is also actively promoting collaborations with industry, presiding the Laboratory for Advanced Technology, a gateway supporting innovation by facilitating industry access to the competences and equipment at the University of Geneva. He was vice president of the physics section (2011-2014) and, since 2014, he is vice dean for innovation and infrastructures of the Faculty of Science of the University of Geneva.

Prof. Renner holds a PhD degree from the University of Geneva. He received the Jean Würth award for best PhD Thesis and the IBM award of the Swiss Physical Society. abstract