Sebastian Steinlechner (S.S.)

I'm an associate professor (UHD) in the Department of Gravitational Waves and Fundamental Physics. My research focusses on interferometry for gravitational-wave detectors, from optical simulations and layouts to quantum measurement techniques. I am a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration since 2009, a member of the Virgo Collaboration since 2019 and a member of the ET Collaboration since its inception in 2022.

Currently, I hold the following positions:

  • Subsystem manager for optical simulation and design (OSD) at Virgo
  • Optics work-package leader for ETpathfinder
  • Modelling & Design Tools workpackage co-chair for the ET Collaboration
  • Ombudsperson for the ET collaboration
  • Member of the NWO Physics for Technology and Instrumentation panel
Expertises
  • optical simulation and design
  • quantum optics
  • squeezed and entangled light
  • nonclassical interferometry
Career history
  • since 2025: Associate Professor (UHD) of Physics, Maastricht University
  • since 2019: Assistant Professor (UD) of Physics, Maastricht University
  • 2016 - 2019: Postdoc in Nonlinear Quantum Optics, University of Hamburg, Germany
  • 2015 - 2016: Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellow at Institute for Gravitational Research, Glasgow University, Scotland
  • 2013 - 2015: Feodor-Lynen Fellow at Institute for Gravitational Research, Glasgow University, Scotland
  • 2013: PhD in physics, Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), Leibniz University Hannover, Germany