Dr. Leonardo Pierobon
Dr. sc., Metal Physics and Technology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
M. sci., Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK
I was born and grew up in sunny Croatia, where I spent countless summer nights staring at the night sky above the crystal clear sea. I was fascinated by the vastness of the universe, hoping that it could provide insights into the mystery of human existence. In high school, I participated in International Astronomy Olympiads and won two bronze medals, one in Hangzhou, China, in 2019 and one in Katowice, Poland, in 2011. There, I decided to study Natural Sciences at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, for which I received a full scholarship, given my poor financial background.
During my time in Cambridge, my interest shifted from cosmic expanses to fundamentally small scales, so I specialized in quantum physics and biophysics. I graduated in June 2016 with First Class Honours and received a Senior Scholar award for excellent examination results. I then proceeded to the Laboratory of Metal Physics and Technology at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, where I obtained my doctoral degree in June 2021 on a topic: Unconventional magnetization structures and processes in nanoscale magnets. In my PhD, I combined electron microscopy and micromagnetic simulations to investigate magnetic materials at the nanoscale, with a goal of improving existing magnets and creating new magnets for energy conversion, electric cars and data storage.
In addition to being a researcher, I am a passionate educator. I believe many students are neglected in the current educational systems, because they try to fit everyone into the same mold of thinking. My approach to each student is personal and catered to their individual needs. I get to know my students, identify their strengths and discover what motivates them in order to make them enthusiastic and confident about learning.
I am also an organizer of the Summer School of Science in Croatia, an international workshop for talented and motivated high school students. I do this voluntarily in order to support students from poor backgrounds and make good education more accessible. Through my work, I try to create a safer place for everyone, regardless of their race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality and ethnicity. Diversity and knowledge are my core values.
My personal academic 