Physicist of the Month

Are you a physicist and would like to introduce yourself and your research or work? Don't hesitate to write to us at chancengleichheit@oepg.at!

October 2026

Francesca Ferlaino, Professor at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) in Innsbruck.

About myself and my research

I was born in Naples in 1977 and attended a French school. I graduated from a classical high school with a focus on Latin and Greek. Science was not a major part of my education, and I had very little exposure to physics classes. However, as a teenager, I visited a nuclear power plant in France and became completely fascinated by nuclear energy. I found it incredible that splitting an atomic nucleus could release such an enormous amount of energy. That fascination never left me.

At the same time, I was interested in many different subjects and considered studying philosophy or medicine. A friend from high school who was studying physics took me to a physics lecture, and that was the turning point. I decided to study physics at the University of Naples and later completed a Master's degree in theoretical physics at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste. I pursued my PhD at the University of Florence and the European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) in Florence. During my doctoral studies, I specialized in experimental physics and contributed to the first realization of quantum gas mixtures composed of different alkali-metal atoms.

In 2006, I came to Innsbruck as a visiting scientist in Rudolf Grimm's research group, originally planning to stay for only three months. Those three months, however, turned into many years. Thanks to an FWF START Award in 2009, Austria's highest distinction for early-career researchers, and an ERC Starting Grant in 2010, I was able to establish my own research team, the Dipolar Quantum Gases Group. Since 2014, I have been a Professor at the Institute of Experimental Physics at the University of Innsbruck and Scientific Director at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Innsbruck.

My research focuses on quantum phenomena in atomic gases at temperatures close to absolute zero. A major focus of my work is quantum simulation using gases of strongly magnetic atoms. In 2012, my team achieved the world's first realization of a Bose-Einstein condensate of erbium atoms. This breakthrough enabled us to observe a range of exotic phases of matter, including the so-called supersolid state. What fascinates me most about fundamental research is the opportunity to ask questions today whose answers may only emerge much later. Discoveries made in our field may ultimately prove valuable in entirely different disciplines and inspire interdisciplinary applications.

Over the years, I have received two additional ERC grants as well as numerous other awards. In recognition of my commitment to women in physics, particularly through the creation of the atom* network, I was awarded the Grete Rehor State Prize in 2023. In 2024, the Austrian newspaper Die Presse named me Austrian of the Year in the category of Research, and in 2025 I was selected as Scientist of the Year by the Austrian Association of Education and Science Journalists.

What can be done to achieve more equal opportunities in physics? 

A key turning point in my personal journey as a physicist was moving from Italy to Austria. In Italy, I had worked in a laboratory where women and men were represented in roughly equal numbers. I never felt the need to count how many women or men worked there. When I arrived in Innsbruck, I was almost the only woman, and for many years I was also the only female professor. This experience made me realize that such imbalances are not isolated cases but rather symptoms of a structural problem.

Women remain underrepresented in physics, and the so-called "leaky pipeline" phenomenon is particularly visible in the field: with each successive career stage, the proportion of women declines. In Austria, women have accounted for only around 24 percent of physics bachelor's students on average during the past decade, while female professors represent only about 13 percent (source: Austrian Physical Society).

At the same time, obtaining a clear and reliable picture of the situation is not always easy. For example, how many women work in physics in other countries? While data sources such as Eurostat exist, I have found them difficult to use effectively. Motivated by the need for transparent data and by a desire to counteract the sense of isolation experienced by many women in quantum physics, I co-founded the atom*innen network in Innsbruck together with colleagues in 2024.

The network is open to everyone interested in making quantum sciences more inclusive. It allows women to connect internationally, exchange ideas, and support one another. As a practical resource, the platform provides easy access to information about funding opportunities, scholarships, and awards. In addition, we feature women physicists through extensive interviews and have created a virtual gallery of role models.

One reason why working with data is particularly important to us is that the representation of women in physics varies considerably from country to country, often in surprising ways. Many Eastern European countries have remarkably high proportions of women among undergraduate physics students, frequently exceeding 50 percent. Examples include North Macedonia, Albania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia. These differences are likely influenced by a combination of educational systems and cultural and historical factors.

At the same time, many of these countries invest less than 1.5 percent of their GDP in research and innovation. Interestingly, women tend to be more strongly represented in physics where research careers are less well funded or carry lower social prestige. In countries such as Austria, where a scientific career is generally regarded as prestigious and well paid, women remain underrepresented. These patterns suggest that women's participation in physics is strongly influenced by societal narratives concerning prestige, social value, and perceptions of which careers are considered desirable.

From my perspective, improving equal opportunities in physics requires action on several fronts. First, we need a careful and evidence-based assessment of the current situation in order to understand why progress remains slower than many would like. Second, we need to identify problems openly and increase the visibility of these issues while encouraging everyone to engage with them. Such efforts can help foster gender-aware perspectives on science.

Ideally, children should be able to grow up free from gender stereotypes and without having their opportunities constrained by them. Achieving this goal also requires broader societal change.

Finally, the scientific community itself must recognize how essential diversity is to scientific progress. Research teams demonstrably benefit from a variety of perspectives and experiences. The ultimate goal should be to create an environment in which all people, regardless of gender or other demographic characteristics, feel welcome and able to contribute.

If you would like to learn more about Francesca Ferlaino and her work, you can visit her profile on the Austrian Academy of Sciences website, her profile on the IQOQI website, the webpage of her research group, and her LinkedIn profile.