Biography
Franz Pfanner is pursuing his Physics PhD at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). During his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, Franz researched novel microscopy techniques and their applications. Beyond this, he has worked on multiple collaborations to bring new sensing and optical technology to emergent problems in imaging and quantum science, including at SLAC, Harvard, the University of Vienna, the Technical University of Vienna, and the University of Bielefeld. Franz serves as Fellow at the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology at Stanford University.
At Caltech, Franz is a member of the Endres Group. As one of the leading groups in theoretical and experimental quantum science, the lab focuses on experiments with individually controlled neutral atoms in optical tweezer arrays. This platform has in recent years become one of the most promising for quantum computing, simulation, and metrology. Franz’s research focuses on developing optical techniques.
At Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), Franz worked on the LZ Experiment Dark Matter Detection as part of the DoE LZ Group, with a focus on building a Liquid Xenon time projection chamber. At the Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference in 2023, Franz demonstrated fundamental wave properties with sound and light during two live quantum physics demonstrations related to photonics, interferometry, and quantum sensing, using sound as a quantum analog.
Beyond his interests in Physics, he is a co-founder of Eislos LLC, a research organization which developed ice substitutes in collaboration with the World Curling Federation for use in high-temperature low-income countries. Furthermore, he is an avid euphonium player having performed with the Orchestra of the Austrian Armed Forces Honor Guards (Austrian Presidential Orchestra) as soldier representative, musician, and translator for diplomatic guests and on international tours. Franz has been an RQT Fellow since 2024.
