Dr. Kasra Amini

Head of ERC Starting Grant Group TERES — Time- and Energy-Resolved Electron Scattering

Academic career

2025–present — Head of ERC Starting Grant Group “TERES”, Max Born Institute (Berlin)
2021–2025 — Junior Research Group Leader (High-repetition-rate UED), Max Born Institute (Berlin)
2022–present — Habilitation, Freie Universität Berlin (physics department)
2019–2021 — Research Fellow, ICFO (Barcelona) — Laser-Induced Electron Diffraction (with Prof. Dr. Jens Biegert)
2017–2019 — Postdoctoral Researcher, ICFO (Barcelona) — Laser-Induced Electron Diffraction (with Prof. Dr. Jens Biegert)
2017 — Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Oxford (with Prof. Mark Brouard & Prof. Daniel Rolles)
2010 — Researcher, UK House of Commons (Science & Environment Section)

Habilitation, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany (Physics), Germany (4 Feb 2022 – present)
D.Phil./PhD (Physical & Theoretical Chemistry), University of Oxford, UK (17 Jan 2014 – 23 Aug 2017)
MSci (Chemistry with Mathematics, First Class Honours), University College London, UK (30 Sep 2008 – 12 Sep 2012)

2013–2017 — D.Phil./PhD in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK
Thesis: Studies of Ultrafast Molecular Photofragmentation and Dynamics Using Fast Imaging Sensors
Supervisor: Prof. Mark Brouard
2008–2012 — MSci (First Class Honours) in Chemistry with Mathematics, University College London, UK
Thesis: New ions and new chemical reactions: Electron ionization of propene
Supervisor: Prof. Stephen Price

1 publication each in Nature Communications, Reports on Progress in Physics, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Optica, Communications Chemistry, and Faraday Discussions
4 publications in The Journal of Chemical Physics
1 publication in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2 publications in Physical Review A
3 publications in Structural Dynamics
2 publications in Journal of Physics B
2 publications in Review of Scientific Instruments
1 publication in European Physical Journal D
Lead editor of the Royal Society of Chemistry book — Structural Dynamics with X-ray and Electron Scattering (2023)
1 invited chapter contribution in Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (2020)
For full details, see the Publications page.

Co-lecturer, Freie Universität Berlin — Advanced AMO Physics MSc (2023)
Co-lecturer, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya — Ultrafast & Ultraintense Laser Light MSc (2018–2021)
Private tutor (2008–2021) — Chemistry, Physics, Biology (GCSE/A-Level/IB)
Physics tutor, Oxford Summer Courses (2017)
Undergraduate lab teacher, University of Oxford (2012–2016)

Official supervisor (since independent group leadership at MBI, 2021–present):
- PhD students
- 2025–2029 — Ms. Athira Santhosh, PhD student
- 2021–2025 — Mr. Fernando Rodriguez, PhD student (thesis submitted for review)
- Masters students
- 2025–2026 — Ms. Jyothsna Varghese, Masters student
- 2025–2026 — Mr. Sudhir Kumar, Masters student
- 2025–2026 — Ms. Simone Stahl, Masters student
Supervised 7 Masters-level research interns (3 female, 4 male).
Prior to independence (2013–2021): co-supervised 5 PhD and 3 Masters students at Oxford, ICFO, and MBI.

2025–Present — Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe
2016–Present — Reviewer for Nature Physics, Nature Chemistry, Physical Review Letters, Nature Communications, Science Advances, and other journals
2022 — IOP Trusted Reviewer, IOP Publishing
2012–Present — Member (MRSC), Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
2021–Present — Member, DPG (Germany)
2021–Present — Member, Optica (USA)