#researcHER: Female Physicists from Around the World Gather in Würzburg

Overview

Women shaping the future of quantum physics: From June 30 to July 2, 2025, the Hubland Campus of JMU Würzburg became a meeting place for female quantum physicists from across the globe. For the second time, a workshop was hosted by the Grete Hermann Network, part of the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter – at the Universities of Würzburg and Dresden. “Our conference provided a space for dialogue, including beyond the boundaries of physics. Open debate about career paths and support structures sparks fresh ideas and inspiring perspectives,” said Professor Johanna Erdmenger, the Grete Hermann Network’s scientific coordinator.

Global Knowledge Transfer

The three-day workshop at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg brought together over 30 established researchers with female early-career scientists. Participants came from countries such as Belgium, Chile, Germany, France, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Japan, and the UK. The program featured 24 presentations.

Professor Andrea Sandoval from the University of Chile presented on “Strain-Enhanced Altermagnetism in Ca₃Ru₂O₇,” exploring how pressure affects the magnetic properties of calcium ruthenate. Recently identified as an “altermagnet,” this material’s magnetic behavior can be controlled by mechanical strain.

Professor Ipsita Mandal of Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, in India addressed electrical transport in topological metals in her talk “Reflections of Topology in Magnetoconductivity of Nodal-Point Semimetals.” After explaining the latest developments in this field, Professor Mandal outlined the challenges of calculating transport properties under magnetic fields and compared her theoretical predictions with experimental data.

Professor Ewelina Hankiewicz from JMU Würzburg and a member of ct.qmat discussed “Thermal vs. Electric Response of Superconducting Topological Materials.” She examined the conditions under which Majorana fermions – exotic particles with potential in quantum computing – can arise.

Professor Cristiane Morais-Smith from Utrecht University spoke about topological effects and interactions in fractal systems in her paper entitled “Topology and Interactions in 1.58 Dimensions.” In it, she presented theoretical and experimental findings on how topological materials behave as they transition between one and two spatial dimensions.

Gender Gap in the World of Physics

Two presentations focused on structural challenges in the physics community and reported on initiatives to support women in science in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe

 In her talk “Women Physicists in the Asia-Pacific Region,” Professor Setsuko Tajima of Osaka University addressed Japan’s stark gender imbalance in physics. She examined the roots of this disparity both before and after graduation and introduced the Women in Physics working group, an Asian network that pursues similar goals to the Grete Hermann Network

 Professor Martina Erlemann of Freie Universität Berlin discussed “Gender and Diversity in the Cultures of Physics and Their Impacts on Careers in Science,” highlighting how workplace culture and social factors – such as gender, origin, and socioeconomic background – can shape scientific careers, even though they should be irrelevant. She emphasized the importance of fostering a sense of belonging in physics environments.

Both talks made it clear that scientific excellence alone is not enough – structural and cultural factors are key to ensuring equal opportunity in physics. The insights sparked valuable international dialogue, knowledge sharing, and ideas for the development of sustainable support structures.

Promoting Early-Career Researchers

Organized by JMU Würzburg and TU Dresden, the workshop offered early-career female scientists a chance to connect with inspiring role models, meet potential mentors, and present their research in talks and posters to an international audience of experts.

Romana Ganser, a master's  student at JMU Würzburg’s Institute of Physics, was awarded the Young Scientist Poster Prize for her poster “Line-Moiré Phases of an Epitaxial Honeycomb Monolayer AgTe/Ag(111).” 

Plans are already underway to organize the next edition of the workshop.

The Grete Hermann Network

Named after a pioneer in quantum mechanics, the Grete Hermann Network (GHN) serves as a global nexus for women researchers specializing in quantum physics and condensed matter physics. With a steadfast commitment to promoting diversity and championing equal opportunities in science, the network not only celebrates the remarkable scientific achievements of women but also provides crucial support to female researchers as they navigate their career trajectories.

The GHN’s inception was facilitated by the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter. This distinguished cluster is anchored at two German universities: JMU Würzburg and TU Dresden. GHN works closely with these two institutions. Its Scientific Coordinator is Professor Johanna Erdmenger from JMU Würzburg.