Mete Atatüre

Mete Atatüre (born 19 February 1975) is a Turkish physicist whose research lies in experimental solid-state quantum optics. His work particularly addresses the optical control of spin-photon coupling, crucial for developing quantum networks. He also investigates many-body physics within atomically-thin heterostructures, aiming to create novel materials and devices for quantum sensing applications. Atatüre leads the Quantum Optical Materials and Systems (QOMS) group at the University of Cambridge, supervising around 30 PhD students and research staff. He is also a co-founder and the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Nu Quantum Ltd., a spin-out company. Since October 2023, he has held the position of Head of the Cavendish Laboratory. Born in Kayseri in 1975, Atatüre completed his secondary education in Ankara. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Bilkent University in 1996 and pursued his PhD at Boston University, graduating in 2002. He continued his research as a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, where he achieved significant results in the control of semiconductor quantum dots, including optical spin initialization and the observation of the Faraday effect for a single spin. In June 2007, he joined the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. He was appointed University Lecturer and Fellow of St John's College, later becoming a Reader in 2011 and a full professor in 2015. His contributions in Cambridge include fundamental aspects of quantum light through resonance fluorescence, quantum control of nuclei, and the development of diamond-based spin-photon interfaces for quantum networks, as well as exploring functionalities in 2D materials, such as the first atomically-thin quantum LED. Atatüre is a member of several prominent scientific organizations, including the Institute of Physics, the Science Academy of Turkey, Academia Europaea, and Optica. He has also been recognized as a Distinguished Visiting Professor by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Distinguished Research Fellow at Sabanci University. He has contributed to the editorial boards of Scientific Reports and Small, and is currently on the editorial board for IoP Materials for Quantum Technology. Beyond his academic work, Atatüre is a strong advocate for science communication, with numerous TEDx talks and opinion pieces. He is also an activist for gender equality and diversity in science. He gained significant public recognition in Turkey, being nominated "Turkish man of the year" by GQ magazine in 2015, earning the nickname "Professor Laughter" for his engaging demeanor.