We’re pleased to announce the most recent addition to our Top Talent Initiative (TTI) programme: Talieh Ghiasi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Quantum Nanoscience at TU Delft.

In her QuSpin Lab, she investigates and controls the interplay between charge, spin, magnetism, topology, and superconductivity at the quantum limit in nanoscale devices. By combining these effects, her team aims to develop quantum spintronic circuits with novel functionalities, useful for future low-power advanced operations and computing.  

We spoke with Talieh about her approach to spintronics and how her research led her to the recognition in our Top Talent Initiative.

Talieh’s research focuses on developing new quantum devices with novel spin-related functionalities, based on graphene and atomically thin magnetic materials.

“In spintronic devices, we typically use the quantum mechanical property of electrons, called spin, to transfer information”, she explains. “With this new generation of quantum spintronic devices, we aim to control the spin of electrons at the ultimate limits of confinement, corresponding to two, one, and zero dimensions.”

When asked to explain further, she highlights the goal of creating electrically controlled quantum building blocks. These include spin filters, quantum dots, and spin readout elements that could contribute to future spin-based quantum technologies.

For Talieh, it’s essential not to treat quantum materials as passive systems. Instead, she and her team actively design and tailor their properties by stacking different atomically thin layers. This approach gives rise to novel phenomena, advanced functionalities, and new quantum-device concepts that are difficult to realise with conventional material platforms.

Talieh hopes her work will expand the platform for quantum hardware. She notes that many of today's spin-qubit technologies rely on established semiconductor platforms, such as silicon or germanium. Her work, on the other hand, explores a complementary route based on 2D materials.

“In the short term, we aim to demonstrate and benchmark 2D material heterostructures as quantum-device building blocks. We do this by developing graphene-based spin-selective channels, gate-defined quantum dots, and electrical methods to read out spin states. Establishing both the capabilities and limitations of such a novel material platform will be valuable for the broader quantum community.”

In the longer term, she points out, this research could contribute to more energy-efficient quantum spintronic technologies. It could also strengthen connections within the Dutch quantum ecosystem by uniting expertise in materials, spintronics, nanofabrication, and qubit physics.

Through her work, she highlights the need to improve existing platforms and asks if entirely new material systems might offer distinct advantages and unexplored opportunities. She hopes to bridge fundamental quantum spintronics research and future quantum technologies.

QDNL’s TTI programme is designed to support and accelerate the careers of exceptional early-stage quantum professionals in the Netherlands. The Top Talent Initiative helps promising researchers and innovators grow their impact, expand their networks, and contribute to the Dutch quantum ecosystem. Each selected talent receives funding, mentorship, and visibility within the national and international quantum community. 

This interview was condensed and edited for clarity.