Prof. Dr. Laurenz Rettig appointed as Professor at the RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau

Prof. Dr. Laurenz Rettig, formerly head of the research group “Dynamics of Correlated Materials” in the Physical Chemistry Department of the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, has been appointed as a professor at the Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität (RPTU) Kaiserslautern-Landau and has accepted the position. He started his new position on January 1, 2026.

Education and Career

2017-2024: Emmy Noether Group Leader, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI), Berlin

Since 2016: Group Leader, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI), Berlin

2013 – 2015: Postdoctoral researcher at the Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland

2012 – 2013: Postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Dr. U. Bovensiepen at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany

2012: Ph.D. in Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Dissertation: „Ultrafast dynamics of strongly correlated electrons“, supervisors Prof. Dr. M. Wolf and Prof. Dr. U. Bovensiepen

2008: Diploma in physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Diploma Thesis: „Ultrafast dynamics in Pb/Si(111) quantum wells“, supervisor Prof. Dr. M. Wolf

Research focus at the FHI

Prof. Dr. Laurenz Rettig has been leading the research group “Dynamics of Correlated Materials” in the Physical Chemistry Department. The aim of his group is to understand complex interaction phenomena in solids, for instance between electrons and lattice or spin excitations. With their approach, the group tries to understand the occurrence of fascinating quantum phenomena such as superconductivity, metal-insulator transitions, or magnetic order. Building on the insights gained, they strive to manipulate such material properties in a targeted manner in order to enable, for example, novel ultra-fast switches or data storage devices.

Therefore, the Rettig group combines various complementary ultrafast investigation methods to study microscopic, dynamic interaction processes in complex quantum materials. In particular, they have made significant advances in time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and momentum microscopy, applying these techniques to various materials with interesting properties. Another focus is on experiments on the dynamics of magnetic materials, including experiments on large-scale research facilities.

Research focus at the new position at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau

The planned research at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau will directly build on previous projects at FHI, with a particular focus on the aspect of ultrafast optical control of quantum materials. To this end, Prof. Dr. Rettig will continue to rely on a combination of different methods and expand on these, for example, with spin- and time-resolved photoemission.

Interview Highlights

1. How did you come to FHI and when?

After completing my postdoc in February 2016, I took over as group leader of the Dynamics of Correlated Materials group. The group was previously founded by Dr. Patrick Kirchmann, who then went to Stanford. Prof. Dr. Martin Wolf had been acting as interim group leader in the meantime.

2. What did you do here?

Together with my group member, we have developed and refined a novel setup for time- and angle-resolved photoemission. From this, I then developed the research project for my Emmy Noether group, which I established at the FHI in 2017.

3. How was your career supported by FHI and MPG?

I enjoyed a fantastic working atmosphere and great freedom in my research at FHI. In particular, the support and mentoring I received from Prof. Dr. Martin Wolf and Prof. Dr. Ralph Ernstorfer helped me greatly in planning my career and, for example, in acquiring third-party funding for projects.

4. How was the collaboration within your team?

My work has been characterized by close collaboration with other research groups in physical chemistry, in particular with Prof. Dr. Ralph Ernstorfer's research group. Regular department seminars and workshops were an important source of ideas in this regard. In my role as group leader, I have always been committed to offering my employees the closest possible support and development opportunities without imposing overly strict guidelines.

5. What have you taken away for your professional future?

I would like to bring the open and appreciative working atmosphere at FHI with me to my new working group. The interdisciplinary nature of research at FHI was very helpful in enabling me to engage with topics that were quite far removed from my own field of research, which often generated new approaches and ideas.

6. What awaits you at your new position?

Certainly, working as a university professor will bring many new challenges that one does not necessarily encounter at non-university research institutes. I am confidently looking forward to these new challenges and opportunities at RPTU, and I am delighted to be able to continue and expand my research on ultrafast dynamics and control in quantum materials with a permanent position. Thanks to an overlap with my predecessor Prof. Dr. Martin Aeschlimann and ongoing cooperation with the FHI, I hope to be able to pick up my work there seamlessly. I am looking forward to an excellent research environment and very dedicated colleagues at RPTU.