21 January 2025

Patrick Emonts has graduated from the group of Prof. Ignacio Cirac at the Max-Planck Institute for Quantum Optics. During his PhD, he focused on tensor network formulations of lattice gauge theories. Since September 2022, he is working as a postdoctoral researcher in the field of quantum information and quantum many-body physics at Leiden University. In addition to his research, he is passionate about science communication and outreach for quantum physics. In our interview, he shared about his memories and insights about his time in Munich Quantum Community.

What was the most memorable experience for you during your PhD in Munich?

It's hard to pinpoint a single most memorable experience, as there have been many. One of them, of course, was my PhD defense. After studying for my bachelor's and master's and spending about four and a half years on my PhD, defending it was a significant milestone.

However, my first workshop stands out as one of the most memorable experiences. It was in June 2019 at ECT in Trento, Italy, an institute located in an old villa. I attended with Julian Bender, another PhD student, and Erez Zohar, at that time a postdoc in the group that I was (and am) working closely with. The atmosphere was incredible. There was a beautiful garden with small trees, and we gathered around a coffee table discussing theoretical physics, particularly ways to improve our Ansatz. It felt like I was truly living the "physics life"—sitting in the sun, exchanging ideas, and experiencing the kind of moments you imagine when you hear stories about Bohr and Heisenberg discussing physics during a walk. The setting, combined with a truck repeatedly passing by carrying small pine trees, added a funny, almost surreal touch to the experience.

Another memorable moment was a late-night collaboration with Julian on a project. He came up with an idea, and we worked together, combining his analytical strengths with my numerical approach. One Friday afternoon, we started around 3 PM—he at the blackboard, and I on my computer writing code. We worked straight through until about 11 PM, even ordering pizza in between. These experiences made me realize the aspects of science I love most—collaborating, discussing ideas, and interacting with other scientists. While solitary work is sometimes necessary, I much prefer engaging with others and believe science benefits from being a collective, collaborative effort.

Do you think science in principle should become more collective and collaborative, than it is now?

Yes and no—it’s a tough question. Yes, because I personally enjoy working that way. Combining people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise with a shared goal usually leads to higher motivation, better results, and overall better physics. However, the "no" comes from the challenges of organizing such collaboration, as the current system doesn’t necessarily support it well.

For instance, in a company, when you design a product, the end result carries the company logo, symbolizing a shared effort. In science, you list all contributors on a paper, and the order of those names matters significantly. This individual attribution has its benefits—those who work hard, perform well, and bring expertise get well-deserved recognition. On the other hand, it can create an environment where people might prefer to keep projects small or individual, rather than fostering large, team-based collaborations.

Team players are valued, but it often requires a conscious choice to decide which teams to contribute to. Unlike a company where everyone rallies around a single product, science often involves multiple projects and fields, with individuals contributing across them. And of course, in contrary, while this provides recognition, it doesn’t always evoke the same collective sense of purpose you’d find in industrial context when a team is pushing one product forward together.

Could you share something particularly exciting or interesting about your current position as a postdoc, after switching the group?

Before my current postdoc position, I primarily worked in pure physics groups. During my bachelor’s, I focused on experimental condensed matter physics, specifically graphene. For my master’s, I transitioned to theoretical condensed matter physics in Stefan Wessel’s group. Later, with Ignacio Cirac, I continued in theoretical physics, exploring primarily physics-focused topics, with occasional forays into related fields.

Now, I’m part of the aQa group (Applied Quantum Algorithms), which is interdisciplinary, including computer scientists, mathematicians, and physicists. This diversity is incredibly exciting, as I’m exposed to entirely new perspectives, also in arguments with my group members. For example, a computer scientist might analyze a problem through complexity classes, while a physicist might focus on the physical system’s behavior. And for me, that's very stimulating. I get to know a lot more about things that I have been interested in before, but never had the opportunity to learn. It’s a bit like being in a group with an organic chemist next door—you naturally pick up new knowledge through just hearing over how he discusses things or gives a seminar. Of course, working in a diverse team also has its challenges. Still, the collective expertise significantly enriches the projects, and I’ve found this collaborative environment to be both rewarding and inspiring.

You probably heard about the ongoing conversation on mental health in academia, do you have activities that you enjoy outside of work to keep the healthy balance?

I find that balancing my work life with plenty of sports works really well for me. I enjoy cycling, climbing, skiing—basically, whatever sport comes my way. Volleyball, for instance, is another favorite. Engaging in these activities provides a great counterbalance to my work, which often involves sitting at a desk, programming, or solving equations.

For me, movement and sports are essential for decompressing, clearing my mind, and recharging for the next day or upcoming challenges.

What advice would you give to current or prospective PhD students as a recent graduate yourself?

A PhD is a great opportunity to learn. There’s often this expectation to produce one paper per year or to hit certain milestones, and while those goals have merit, they can also put a lot of pressure on PhD students. They start counting years, counting papers, and that can lead to stress and frustration, especially when projects don’t move as quickly as expected—sometimes due to unforeseen difficulties. It’s important to take the time to really learn. Attending a summer school, spending a week reading and understanding a concept—these are not wasted efforts.

Now, as a postdoc working with PhD students, I occasionally catch myself wanting results faster so we can publish. But I’ve realized it’s often better for them to take an extra week to fully grasp something and get it right the first time, instead of rushing and having to redo it multiple times. A PhD isn’t a sprint like a bachelor’s or master’s program, where projects are shorter and more narrowly defined. You’ll be working on something over several years, so it’s crucial to take your time, do it properly, and avoid unnecessary stress and believe that it all will in the end be okay somehow. My advice is simple: take time to learn, and remember that a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint.

In your view, how can Munich quantum community best contribute to advancing QST fields in the coming years?

I’d say, keep up the good work. The combination of experimental and theoretical groups in and around Munich is really exciting. Having this kind of ecosystem, where you can network through summer schools, conferences, workshops, and even industry connections, is fantastic. There’s a mix of opportunities—from scientific summer schools to broader-scope workshops and industry relations, and even nearby startups like Planqc. It’s a great hotpot of different things. So, one thing I’d wish for is that people make even more use of these opportunities. Looking back now that I’m away, I realize I could have taken better advantage of them. Strengthening these connections even further would be a great step. And of course, I’d love to come back at some point—to give a talk, join a seminar, or participate in a summer school. I’m really looking forward to it!