Elena Blundo | Meet the MCQSTians: In this series, we regularly feature members of the MCQST community and offer insights into their research and career.

"It’s crucial for early-career scientists to have the opportunity to develop their ideas independently"

Elena Blundo completed her studies at Sapienza University of Rome, where she also earned her PhD with research focused on semiconducting nanostructures. After obtaining her doctorate, she sought postdoctoral opportunities abroad and ultimately chose the Technical University of Munich. Her research interests remain centered on the discovery of innovative materials and systems that can emit light efficiently and hold significant technological potential.

Can you briefly explain your research project? What are your main research goals?

My current research focuses on two-dimensional (2D) materials, which are crystals where one dimension is reduced to the scale of just one or a few atoms. This extreme thinness enables quantum phenomena to manifest, resulting in properties distinct from those of bulk crystals with the same chemical composition. For example, the light-emitting capability of well-known 2D semiconductors significantly improves when reduced to a single layer. Moreover, 2D materials can be combined to create heterostructures with novel characteristics arising from the interaction of different materials. My project is focused on designing and analyzing new 2D heterostructures, as well as developing techniques to control and tailor the properties of the light emitted by these structures.

Are there any interdisciplinary aspects to your research that you find particularly fascinating or promising?

Research on 2D materials has revealed to be promising in many different fields, going from electronics, to optoelectronics, to gas sensing, to catalysis, to medical applications, and much more. I think this is very fascinating. When I started working on 2D materials during my PhD, I was mostly studying their mechanical and optical properties. I then started investigating their potential interest for quantum applications and my research efforts are now more focused in this direction, but I’m still curious to see what other researchers in the field are achieving.

"I believe it’s crucial for early-career scientists to have the opportunity to develop their ideas independently while being part of a stimulating environment where they interact with other researchers."

How do you approach the communication of your research findings to both the scientific community and the general public?

Sometimes, it can be challenging to explain in detail what I am doing and achieving to the general public because research can be very detailed and specific. At the same time, I think it’s fundamental to be able to give an idea of what you are doing and why it’s worth it. In order to do that, I always try to imagine myself being on the other side and knowing nothing about my research field. I then try to start with simple examples that the general public can relate to and from there, I build up to explaining my work in straightforward terms.

Sharing my findings with the scientific community might seem easier, but it’s not always the case. Research is diverse, and many scientists work in fields that are vastly different from mine, meaning they may have only a limited understanding of my area. In these situations, I also start with simple explanations and gradually add more details step by step, ensuring that my audience can follow along.

What kind of support do you think is important for early career scientists to have?

I believe it’s crucial for early-career scientists to have the opportunity to develop their ideas independently while being part of a stimulating environment where they interact with other researchers -- from experienced ones to other early career ones-- and with students. It is thus important to be supported in both these aspects. The ability to apply for funding is essential, as it enables scientists to plan and advance their research independently. Equally important is being embedded in a network of researchers, which fosters learning about diverse topics and building scientific collaborations.

What advice would you give to other young researchers who are just starting their academic or scientific careers?

My advice is to look for a topic which they find interesting and a research group in which they are stimulated. In research you may encounter some hurdles, but if you work in a positive environment and you really like what you are doing, you are motivated to tackle the hurdles, and you can have a lot of fun with science.

Find out more about the Distinguished Postdoc Fellowship and Elena's research.