Who are you?

I am Jeelben Kothadiya, a final year BS-MS Physics student at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), one of the awardees of the Inspire Potential fellowship for master’s thesis at University of Geneva, Switzerland supported by NCCR SPIN Program.

What attracted you to take a (quantum) physics career?

My main motivation to study physics comes from my curiosity. I like to ask how things work and what basic rules are behind them. I am especially interested in quantum physics because it is often unpredictable and always surprises us with its unique behavior.

How have you heard about the INSPIRE Potentials Fellowship? In what way did the fellowship help you in your research?

I heard about this program by my past supervisor, from one of the professor at my home institute as well as by Prof. Jelena in one of the email interactions for research opportunities under her guidance.

The fellowship provided me with a valuable opportunity to carry out my thesis work outside of my home institution. It not only supported me financially but also enabled me to travel to Switzerland and engage in in-person research. This experience significantly enhanced my research skills, exposed me to an international research environment, and allowed me to collaborate more effectively. Without this fellowship, such an opportunity would not have been possible for me.

What was the topic of your master’s project?

My master’s thesis was on the topic of theoretical open quantum systems and I worked under the guidance of Dr. Geraldine Haack at the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

What was the biggest challenge in your master thesis? What did you enjoy the most?

The biggest challenge in my master’s thesis was understanding and working with the Lindblad dynamics for open quantum systems. Since it was my first time working with open quantum systems, it required a lot of time to carefully understand the equations and their physical meanings, especially it was important for autonomous gate operation.

What I enjoyed the most was the process of connecting theory with physical intuition. It was very satisfying to see how abstract mathematical ideas can describe real quantum systems. I also enjoyed the freedom to explore ideas and think deeply about the problem.

What did you learn through this experience?

I learned that, it is never too late to learn new topics and it is also very important to explore different areas. Sometimes, it is important to give more time in learning basics, it is not a waste of time, but I would say it is investment of time. It helps a lot in the research later on.

I also learned how to be patient and consistent while working on complex ideas, and how to approach a problem step by step. Overall, it helped me grow both academically and personally.

How was your experience living abroad? Was it the first time for you?

It was my second time abroad, but my first time in Europe, and it was a really nice experience. I got to know the international research culture, interacted with people working in my field, and understood how research is actually done in practice. It was one of the best experiences of my life, which I will always cherish.

I was also lucky to be part of the NCCR SPIN Winter School 2026 in Grindelwald. It was my first time attending a winter school, and it was very exciting. I met people from different universities and different research areas. I also presented my poster for the first time. I really enjoyed preparing it, explaining my work to others, and receiving useful suggestions.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to continue in academia and pursue a PhD in theoretical quantum physics. In the long term, I hope to become a professor, as it would allow me to do both research and teaching, and to share my knowledge with others.