Prof. Dr. Jochen Geck

Professor für Physik der Quantenmaterialien

Institut fuer Festkoerper- und Materialphysik
Technische Universitaet Dresden
01062 Dresden
Germany

Visitor address:
Haeckelstr. 3 - REC/C114
01069 Dresden, Germany

ORCID: 0000-0002-2438-0672
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Motivation

It is fascinating how matter evolves into ever more complex forms. In the early universe, only the simplest elements—hydrogen and helium—existed. Through the gravitational collapse of these primordial gases, the first stars were born, igniting nuclear processes that produced heavier chemical elements and seeding the formation of rocky planets like Earth. On our planet, this accumulation of elements provided the foundation for life, which, over billions of years, evolved into increasingly complex organisms. Eventually, intelligence emerged —matter became a substrate for consciousness, capable of reflecting on itself, on life, and on the very laws that govern the universe.

Yet, the evolution of complexity did not stop there. Humans intentionally manipulate matter themselves and have now reached the point where they create specific functions and even new forms of artificial, inorganic intelligence, expanding the ways in which matter and energy can process information.

This ongoing progression—from simple atomic building blocks to increasingly complex forms of matter—is the basis of my fascination with physics. Specifically, my fascination with condensed matter physics lies in understanding how complex matter is structured, how it can be controlled, how new physical phenomena emerge, and how these phenomena can be harnessed for functions such as energy storage and conversion, as well as novel forms of information processing and computation.

Exploring these questions is not just about understanding the properties of specific materials and using them for technological applications, but also about the search for physical principles, which drive the evolution of complexity in nature —arguably one of the most profound and fascinating mysteries.

Employment

Since September 2016: Full Professor (W3) for the Physics of Quantum Materials at the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
2015-2016: Full Professor (equivalent W3) for Condensed Matter Physics at the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria.
2014-2015: Interim Chair for Structural Physics of Condensed Matter, Dresden Technical University, Germany
Since 2014: IFF group leader, Synchrotron Studies of Quantum matter, IFW Dresden, Germany
2008-2013: Emmy Noether research group leader at the IFW Dresden, Germany
2006-2008: Postdoctoral DFG-fellow with Prof. G.A. Sawatzky, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2004-2005: Postdoc at the IFW Dresden, Germany
2001-2003: Research assistant, RWTH Aachen, Germany
1999-2001: Research assistant, University of Cologne, Germany
1996-1998: Tutor at the Institute for Mathematics, University of Cologne, Germany

Roles and Responsibilities

Senator of TU Dresden (since January 2025)
Managing Director of the IFMP (since April 2019)
Vice Dean of the Faculty of Physics
Member of the School Committee of the School of Science at TU Dresden
Member of the Department Commission of the Faculty of Physics
Chairman of the Examination Board for the Physics Teacher Training Program
Local conference chair for the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (Sektion Kondensierte Materie)

Education

2000-2003: Ph.D. in Physics, RWTH Aachen, Germany
1999: Diploma in Physics, University of Cologne, Germany
1993-1999: Study of physics and mathematics, University of Cologne, Germany

Awards and honors

Founding member of the cluster of excellence ct.qmat
IFF Research Prize
DFG Emmy Noether research grant (IFW Dresden, Germany)
DFG postdoctoral research fellow (Vancouver, Canada)
Borchers Plaquette (Award of the RWTH Aachen for the Ph.D. thesis)

Third Party Funding

Cluster of Excellence Complexity and Topology in Quantum Materials. PI since 2019.
Correlated Magnetism: From Frustration to Topology. Collaborative Research Center SFB 1143. PI since 2015

Completed Projects:

Itineranter Magnetismus und Supraleitung in intermetallischen Verbindungen. Graduiertenkolleg 1621 of the German Research Foundation
Coupled spin, charge, and orbital dynamics of low-dimensional cuprates. Joined project of the PSI in Villigen and the IFW Dresden within the DACH-agreement between Switzerland and Germany. Commonly funded by the Swiss National Fund and the German Research Foundation (PI and main applicant of the German side, 2012-2017).
Development and optimization of cathode materials for solid state fuel cells by means of synchrotron radiation. Bilateral cooperation in Education and Science, International bureau of the BMBF (PI and main applicant of the German side, ended)
Confined correlated electrons explored by novel synchrotron experiments. Emmy Noether grant of the German Research Foundation (PI, 2008-2015)
Structure, kinetics and ordering in model materials for lithium-ion batteries. Priority Program 1473 of the German Research Foundation (PI, 2010-2013)
Self-organized electronic superlattices in transition metal oxides studied by means of novel synchrotron radiation techniques. Research fellowship of the German Research Foundation (PI, 2006-2008).
Spin and charge in electrochemically doped transition metal oxides. French-German Network (PI, 2004-2007).