Exploring the
Quantum
Frontier.
Dr. Elara Aris is a condensed matter physicist specializing in topological materials and nanoscale transport phenomena.
Academic Profile
Affiliation
ETH Zürich
Department of Physics
Education
University of Cambridge
PhD in Applied Physics
Bridging theoretical frameworks with experimental precision to uncover the fundamental laws of matter.
Elara Aris leads the Quantum Condensed Matter Laboratory at ETH Zürich, where her team investigates the emergent electronic properties of materials at the nanoscale. Her research lies at the intersection of topology, quantum mechanics, and solid-state physics.
With over 40 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature, Science, and Physical Review Letters, her work has contributed significantly to the development of topological insulator theory and the discovery of novel quantum phases in 2D materials.
Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Aris is a passionate advocate for open science and interdisciplinary collaboration, frequently partnering with material scientists and electrical engineers to translate quantum phenomena into functional device architectures.
Research Focus
Investigating the building blocks of the quantum future.
Quantum Materials
Investigating the electronic properties of 2D van der Waals heterostructures at sub-Kelvin temperatures.
Nanophotonics
Developing light-matter interaction models for next-generation optical computing circuits.
Computational Physics
Large-scale Monte Carlo simulations of topological phase transitions in frustrated magnets.
Selected Publications
Contributions to the global scientific record.
Topological Insulators in Hexagonal Lattices
Physical Review Letters
Nanoscale Thermal Transport in Graphene
Nature Nanotechnology
Introduction to Quantum Fluids
Oxford University Press
Career Journey
A foundation of rigorous academic training.
Associate Professor
ETH Zürich
Lead researcher at the Quantum Condensed Matter Laboratory.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Stanford University
Research focused on high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates.
PhD in Applied Physics
University of Cambridge
Dissertation on 'Exciton-Polariton Condensates in Microcavities'.
“Dr. Aris's work on topological phases has fundamentally shifted our understanding of low-dimensional electron systems. A rigorous and innovative thinker.”
Prof. Hans Müller
Max Planck Institute
“An exceptional mentor who brings clarity to the most complex theoretical frameworks. Her laboratory is a hub of genuine scientific discovery.”
Dr. Sarah Chen
MIT Media Lab
Teaching & Mentorship
Nurturing the next generation of physicists.
Advanced Quantum Mechanics
A graduate-level course covering path integrals, second quantization, and many-body theory.
Physics of 2D Materials
Exploring the unique electronic and optical properties of graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides.
Get in Touch
Collaboration and Inquiry.
Dr. Aris is open to research collaborations, speaking invitations, and inquiries from prospective graduate students.
Office
HPT F 12, ETH Zürich, Switzerland