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Jakub Schusser secured this highly competitive international grant, marking a historic first for the University of West Bohemia. “I am incredibly proud of Jakub. This is exactly what we aim for – our researchers gaining experience abroad and bringing the knowledge back to us. This benefits not only their careers but also strengthens our entire research center,” said Petr Kavalíř, Director of NTC at ZČU.

“Jakub is engaged in both theoretical calculations and experimental research. This dual focus is also one of the key strengths of our team in Pilsen – we bring theorists and experimentalists together under one roof,” explained Ján Minár, head of quantum and advanced materials research at NTC. The Pilsen team played a crucial role in confirming the existence of altermagnets. Their research, published in Nature in February 2024, was recognized as one of the ten most significant scientific discoveries of the year by Science magazine.

As part of the Altermagnetic Robust Topological Quantum Materials (ART.QM) project, Jakub will focus on studying topological altermagnets using photoemission spectroscopy, a method that allows for unprecedented precision in examining the electronic properties of materials. “Our goal is to understand how topology and altermagnetism work at the most fundamental level and how they are interconnected. This will enable us to control the properties of altermagnets and systematically select the best candidates for applications in electronic devices with higher efficiency and lower energy consumption,” Schusser explained.

The topological altermagnets under study combine the advantages of both conventional magnetic types – ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. This means they remain stable while allowing for spin-based manipulation of electrons in ways previously impossible. Such properties are crucial for future technologies, including quantum computing and neuromorphic computing. “Topology plays an essential role in these materials, as it not only leads to new fundamental discoveries in physics but also paves the way for groundbreaking applications in next-generation electronic devices,” Schusser added.

This year, the Czech Republic secured 25 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) under the Horizon Europe program, an increase from the previous year. However, physics-related projects typically account for just over 10% of all applications, making them significantly less common overall.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program supports researchers in gaining international experience and bringing their expertise back home. “These grants are essential for fostering young scientists and advancing cutting-edge research. Currently, the University of West Bohemia is involved in six MSCA projects, supporting staff, PhD students, and initiatives such as the European Researchers’ Night. Within NTC alone, we are leading two prestigious physics-related MSCA projects: the European Spectroscopy Laboratory for Modeling Future Materials (EUSpecLab) and the ART.QM individual grant awarded to Jakub Schusser,” said Dagmar Vokounová Franzeová, Director of the Project Center at ZČU.

Jakub Schusser: Researcher Profile

 Jakub Schusser is a physicist specializing in quantum materials research. He studied physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University and earned his PhD from CY Cergy-Pontoise University in Paris under the supervision of Karol Hricovini and Ján Minár. After completing his doctorate, he briefly worked at NTC ZČU before continuing his academic career at the University of Würzburg in Germany. He recently returned to NTC as part of the Quantum Materials for Sustainable Technologies project, where he successfully secured the prestigious MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship under the Horizon Europe program. His current research focuses on photoemission theory and altermagnetic quantum materials, with potential applications in spintronics and quantum computing.