Theoretical physicist Elena Poli, a former PhD student in the research group of Francesca Ferlaino, received the IQOQI Dissertation Prize 2025. The prize, worth EUR 1.000, has been awarded since 2013 as a recognition for outstanding scientific achievements in the field of quantum physics. We warmly congratulate Elena Poli on her success!
In her dissertation, Elena Poli characterizes the dual-nature of supersolids – paradoxical quantum systems in which crystalline order coexists with superfluid flow. These states could be realized in the context of ultracold dipolar gases, a field in which the research group of Prof. Francesca Ferlaino is at the forefront.
The work presented in the dissertation is primarily based on numerical simulations, complemented by close collaboration with experimentalists, within the local theory–experiment environment. Elena Poli developed theoretical approaches to identify clear signatures of both solid and superfluid behaviour in two-dimensional dipolar supersolids, focusing in particular on the emergence of a finite shear modulus and the nucleation of quantized vortices. Finally, she demonstrated how these systems can serve as quantum simulators of neutron star glitches, linking vortex dynamics in dipolar supersolids to astrophysical phenomena. Her work not only advances current research in low-temperature quantum physics but also establishes an important interdisciplinary bridge with astrophysics, marking significant progress toward the quantum simulation of stellar objects from Earth.
Award for outstanding achievements
The IQOQI Dissertation Prize is presented to promising young physicists for their outstanding achievements in the field of quantum physics. Endowed with a prize money of 1,000 Euro, it recognizes the excellent work of graduates of the PhD or doctoral studies at the University of Innsbruck. This year Elena Poli of Francesca Ferlaino’s research group is presented with the prize for her dissertation “Unveiling the Superfluid and Solid Behaviour in Dipolar Supersolids”, submitted in September 2025. The award ceremony will take place on May 11, 2026.Profile
Born near Venice, Italy, Elena Poli studied physics at the University of Padova, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She completed her PhD in August 2025 at the University of Innsbruck, working in the Theory Division of the Dipolar Quantum Gases group led by Prof. Francesca Ferlaino. Her research is presented in her dissertation, “Unveiling the Superfluid and Solid Behaviour in Dipolar Supersolids.” Since November 2025, she has been a postdoctoral researcher in the BEC group at CNR-INO and the University of Trento, where her work focuses on hydrodynamics of supersolid states and the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of coherently coupled Bose–Einstein condensate mixtures.