Rafael Luque joins 2D Foundry as a new postdoctoral researcher

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Rafael Luque Merino was born in La Laguna (Tenerife, Canary Islands) and now is a postdoctoral researcher at the 2D Foundry at the Materials Science Institute of Madrid. He comes from LMU Munich and ICFO in Barcelona: he completed his PhD between these two institutions, receiving his PhD in Photonics from ICFO with the international doctorate mention.

What have you worked on so far?

So far in my career I've worked on diverse topics of condensed matter physics and 2D materials, including superconducting devices such as nanowire single-photon detectors or transmon qubits. During my PhD I focused on the optoelectronic study of strongly correlated 2D materials, whether exfoliating intrinsically correlated materials (such as high-temperature superconductors) or inducing electronic correlations via twist angle engineering. To study these materials, I combined low-temperature electronic transport with optical excitations at optical and near-infrared wavelengths.

What will you work on? With whom?

At ICMM I will work on a variety of topics, revolving around the engineering of 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures by applying strain and introducing interlayer twist angles. These degrees of freedom potentially unlock a large variety of phenomena, so I believe there's plenty of aspects to explore.

Why did you choose ICMM?

From my previous experience at ICFO, I have the conviction that it's possible to do cutting-edge research here in Spain. The ICMM embodies this idea, so it felt like the perfect fit for the next step in my career.

And a personal touch: any hobbies? What would you like to contribute to the institute?

In my personal time, I enjoy sports (basketball and padel in particular), as well as music (from jazz to hip-hop), cooking and literature (often linked to philosophy). I hope that I can provide new scientific discoveries and contribute to the great research environment in the 2D Foundry group and the institute as a whole.