Prof. André Xuereb leads the Quantumalta research group. His background is in theoretical quantum optics, optomechanics, and quantum thermodynamics, but has also worked on experiments in quantum communication, time and frequency distribution, and seismic sensing.
André read for a BSc in mathematics and physics at the University of Malta and a PhD in physics – mostly theoretical, but with an experimental component – at the University of Southampton (United Kingdom). After a short stint as a postdoctoral research assistant at the Leibniz University in Hanover (Germany), he spent some years as a research fellow of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 at Queen's University Belfast (Northern Ireland).
Returning to Malta permanently as a lecturer in 2014, and associate professor since 2016, André set up the country's first quantum optics group, which has grown slowly to encompass a variety of researchers and work spanning from theory to (some) experiment. Since October 2019, André heads the Department of Physics.
He is involved in a number of international research projects, including HOT—Hybrid Optomechanical Technologies, SEQUEL—Secure Quantum Undersea Link, and TOM—Topological Optomechanical Metamaterials. In 2020 he was awarded a research grant by the University of Malta to conduct research in using the telecommunications network for seismic sensing.
André represents Malta on the European Commission Flagship Board of Funders, was appointed the Maltese Sherpa on the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure board, and is Science Policy Officer of the Malta Chamber of Scientists.
Away from academia, André co-owns an educational software start-up company and is involved in Greenroads Malta, a company that investigates solutions that promote sustainable mobility. He is married to an intellectual property lawyer and has a beautiful young daughter whom he is especially fond of.
