Biography
Markus Schoelmerich earned his Bachelor's degree in Geoscience in 2014 and his Master's degree in Geochemistry and Petrology in 2016 from Goethe University Frankfurt. He then completed his PhD in Experimental Physics in 2020 at the University of Rostock and the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), specializing in Condensed Matter Physics. His research focused on X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy studies of oxides found in Earth's and Super-Earth mantles, investigating their behavior under extreme pressures and temperatures using nanosecond laser-induced compression. Additionally, he studied X-ray diagnostics, high-intensity laser experiments, and atomic-scale simulations.
In 2021, he joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a postdoctoral scientist, working on inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and the Omega Laser Facility. In 2023, he transitioned to PSI as a Computational Scientist, developing advanced simulation and data analysis tools for X-ray-based research while also applying Density Functional Theory and Molecular Dynamics simulations to materials modeling.
Since 2024, he has served as a Program Manager at the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) at the Paul Scherrer Institute, where he fosters collaborations between ESA, academia, and industry to drive innovation in space materials research in Switzerland.