Welcome! Can you provide a brief introduction to yourself, including your academic background and area of research?

I’m a theoretical physicist specializing in condensed matter, a field that aims at understanding how materials behave at the quantum level. Traditionally, this has meant studying things like the superconductors used in MRI machines or the semiconductors found in everyday electronics. My work focuses on what comes next: materials just a few atoms thick (you may have heard of graphene) that allow for more flexible design and can host entirely new phases of matter with unusual properties. To explore these systems, I combine analytical theory with advanced computational tools to study how large numbers of interacting quantum particles give rise to unexpected, collective behavior. I developed these approaches during my PhD at MIT and later as a postdoctoral fellow at the Flatiron Institute in New York.

Could you share some details about your current interests and any specific projects you are working on?

Most of my current projects focus on two areas: high-temperature superconductors and topological phases of matter.

Traditional superconductors are well understood and follow universal scaling laws, despite having very different chemical compositions or lattice structures, making them highly predictable. Their main issue is that they only work at extremely low temperatures, limiting their applications. In contrast, high-temperature superconductors function at much higher temperatures—sometimes only needing cooling by liquid nitrogen—but their behavior depends sensitively on atomic-scale details, making them difficult to model and use. One of my goals is to identify mechanisms that both explain and guide the design of such materials. A recent example involves using intertwined atomic lattices made of different elements, which can, for purely geometric reasons, trap pairs of electrons and trigger superconductivity at higher temperatures.

I also study topological phases, which can only emerge in two-dimensional systems and can host exotic quasi-particles called anyons. These particles fall outside the usual categories of fermions and bosons and, because of this unusual property, are of great interest for fault-tolerant quantum computing. So far, they’ve only been detected indirectly. My work involves designing theoretical setups and sample architectures that could allow us to trap and manipulate them in a more controlled way.

What is your approach to teaching, and are there specific teaching methods or philosophies you are particularly passionate about?

I strongly believe in the use of numerical simulations to make lectures more accessible whenever possible. Computers have that unique (sometimes exasperating) ability to never work quite right unless you perfectly solve the specific problem you are dealing with. This forces a kind of trial-and-error exploration mirroring real research, and even small coding projects can lead to genuine "eureka" moments for students. These experiences often help students connect with topics they previously found difficult or abstract. In that sense, numerical work simply complements problem sets or term papers as another way to build a personal, hands-on connection to the material.

Are there any interdisciplinary or collaborative initiatives you are interested in pursuing within the department?

By its nature, my theoretical work needs collaboration with experimentalists. They help ground theory models in reality and identify the key knowledge gaps I should focus on. These interactions are essential to keeping my theory relevant and impactful. Beyond condensed matter experimentalists, I’m excited to build stronger ties with the vibrant quantum computing community in the Toronto area. I also see many opportunities for collaboration with researchers at the Perimeter Institute, with which my research interests overlap.

Is there a specific accomplishment you are particularly proud of?

One accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is continuing to pursue my research while taking time off to welcome my two daughters (one born at the end of my PhD and the other during my postdoctoral years). I worked hard to balance family and science, trading long brainstorming sessions for stroller walks and beer-and-pizza gatherings for exhausting playdates. It was challenging, especially while on the academic job market, but rewarding beyond professional success!

In what ways do you hope to make an impact within the department and the broader academic community?

I hope to make a meaningful impact through mentoring the master’s students I supervise: building a supportive group where each of them can grow, while equipping them with transferable (numerical) skills that will serve them wherever their career leads them. This is my main goal and where I hope to have the most impact! Beyond that, I want to actively serve as a bridge between theory and experiment, a role I have pursued throughout my career and plan to embrace even more within the department.

What advice would you offer to students who are interested in pursuing a career in teaching?

One thing I realized early on in my teaching experience is that it’s one of the few professions where the reward is almost immediate. You can often see it in your students’ expressions when something clicks, when they gain confidence in their ability to solve a problem. That’s where your impact lies, and it’s fulfilling.

Are there any lessons from your own academic journey that you would like to share?

Taking the step from contributing to someone else’s vision to leading your own is challenging but essential. It’s the point where you start facing the real hardships of research – questions of impact, limited resources, and slow, incremental progress. But it’s also the experience that truly helps you grow into a full and independent member of the academic community. Your publication record will not immediately reflect it, but anyone talking to you will quickly discern how you’re growing to become a real faculty and will value this growth more than a line in a resume.

What drew you to join our department, and what aspects do you find most appealing or unique?

What ultimately drew me was its welcoming atmosphere, as well as the critical mass of recently hired assistant professors with whom I hope to build strong relationships and equally strong research collaborations.