“academic research often feels like a solo or doubles tennis match”

An interview with IMPRS-APS alumnus Sambit Mitra

July 23, 2026

Compared to academic research, industry is more like a team sport, says our IMPRS-APS alumnus Sambit Mitra. Starting 2016, Sambit – originally from Kolkata, India, - pursued his PhD in the group of Prof. Matthias Kling at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. Today, he continues to live and work in the area, serving as the Technical Lead at the deep-tech startup Qlibri in Munich, where he bridges the gap between cutting-edge hardware engineering and business strategy. In this interview, Sambit talks about his current role and looks back at his time at the IMPRS-APS.

Can you tell us a bit about your academic journey?

My academic journey actually began during a short internship in Marseille, France in 2014, where I was first exposed to a state-of-the-art laser laboratory (the LP3 laboratory of the CNRS) and experienced hands-on experimental research for the first time. Working on laser micro-machining there sparked a deep curiosity in me about how light and lasers interact with matter on a truly fundamental level. Driven by that curiosity, I applied to the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) for my Master’s thesis and joined the group of Prof. Matthias Kling—one of the associated groups within the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics. I enjoyed the research and environment so much that I decided to stay, officially starting my PhD in 2016 as a member of the IMPRS-APS.

What was your PhD research about?

My PhD research broadly comprised three different projects—mainly experimental—held together by a central theme: tailoring strong infrared (IR) and mid-infrared (MIR) lasers using complex interferometers in time and polarization to control electron dynamics at attosecond timescales. First, I studied a classic physicist’s ideal atomic model using noble gases to see how tailoring these laser fields modifies high-harmonic generation. Alongside this, I conducted purely numerical work on tailored soft X-ray emissions from these fields. Finally, the cornerstone of my thesis focused on exploring complex, solid-state, 2D Haldane-like systems such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), which is currently proving to be foundational for next-generation valleytronics.

Where are you working now, and what is your current role?

I am currently working as the Technical Lead at Qlibri GmbH, a spin-off from the MPQ and LMU. Qlibri produces the world's only commercially available, ultra-smooth, optical-fiber-based mirrors and the complete micro-cavity systems built around them, enabling breakthroughs in quantum sensing and quantum computing. Though we maintain a very flat company structure, my role bridges the gap between the company's strategic vision and the practical engineering implementation of novel micro-cavity platforms. These platforms must be compatible with extreme environments, including cryogenic temperatures, ultra-high vacuum, high temperatures, and intense magnetic fields. I work closely with our engineering teams and the co-founders to translate customer requirements and business strategy into actionable hardware development plans. Given our startup scale, I also wear several other hats, handling technical sales, customer support, installations, and laser safety. It has been incredibly rewarding to explore these different facets of the business, as they represent opportunities I never had during my academic career. Some of these responsibilities also allow me to continue traveling worldwide for conferences and on-site installations. That being said, I still dedicate the vast majority of my time to R&D, as I have realized that hands-on research and development is still what I enjoy doing best.

Can you walk us through a typical day for you at Qlibri?

My schedule varies quite a bit depending on the day of the week. Mondays are heavily focused on team alignment. We start the week with a "Brezn & Samosa" breakfast meeting to catch up on a personal level, followed by scheduled progress reports. I then participate in individual team meetings to prioritize our engineering tasks for the week. Occasionally, I also help co-coordinate general employee meetings where we discuss internal processes—what is working, what isn't, and what needs to be communicated to the co-founders. On a standard day, I start at 9:00 AM by reviewing my to-do list and meetings. If I am in the office, this is usually preceded by coffee or tea with colleagues. Afterward, I head down to the labs to check in with the students and colleagues to help troubleshoot any bottlenecks. The rest of the morning usually involves a mix of customer calls or internal technical syncs. Right before lunch, I try to knock out administrative tasks before eating with whoever is on-site. Tuesdays feature a favorite ritual of ours: an hour-long coffee walk through the Englischer Garten, which is a fantastic, casual way to discuss smaller technical or organizational topics. I also balance my professional life with my Elternzeit (parental leave) regulations. Three days a week, I work reduced hours and leave between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM to pick up my son from daycare, often using the train ride to catch up on analytical tasks. On meeting-heavy days, I work from home entirely at times, supervising lab activities remotely when needed.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I deeply appreciate the flexibility the company offers, which allows me to thrive in my role while being a parent to a young child. What is particularly wonderful is that, despite being a startup, we strictly regulate our working hours, and working beyond our expected time is actively discouraged. This balance is made possible by our company policies and the genuine empathy of my team members. Beyond that, we have an incredible team spirit; the boundary between being a colleague and a friend is beautifully thin here.

What’s the most important skill that you need in your job?

While deep technical expertise is a given, communication is paramount in a role like this. In a startup with a diverse product portfolio, you are constantly multitasking. Strong communication is vital for aligning expectations, managing team preferences and optimizing company processes.

How does your PhD experience help you in your current role? Which skills or habits that you developed during your PhD do you still use today?

The most invaluable skill I took away from my PhD is how to systematically dismantle and solve a problem, whether it is highly technical or organizational. It taught me how to handle failure and reminded me that seeing a project through to the finish line requires immense patience. Additionally, academia taught me how to look at the "big picture" and filter out secondary technical noise—a habit that keeps our startup teams focused during rapid development cycles. Finally, while it occasionally annoyed me at the time, Matthias’ (my PhD supervisor) insistence on my involvement in multiple concurrent projects turned out to be a blessing; it forced me to become highly productive and master the art of multitasking.

What is it like to work at a start-up, and how does it differ from doing your PhD research?

A favorite saying among my colleagues captures the technical difference perfectly: In academia, a setup often only needs to work once or twice to prove a point; in industry, it has to be robust enough to survive the test of time. On a non-technical level, the team dynamics are completely different. Due to how theses are structured, academic research often feels like a solo or doubles tennis match—highly individualistic. Industry, by contrast, is like football; you win or lose based on the collective effort of a large team collaborating tightly to bring a product to life. That being said, the rapid development cycles in a startup feel incredibly familiar to the fast-paced trial-and-error environment of a PhD lab.

What's one thing that you miss about academia that you don't get to experience in industry? Conversely, what's one thing that you're happy to leave behind in academia?

I definitely miss the freedom to chase purely curiosity-driven technical ideas and learn something entirely new just for the sake of it. In industry—especially in bootstrapped startups—time and budget are highly optimized constraints. In academia, it was an absolute luxury to spend a week trying out a wild, experimental idea just to see if it would stick. Conversely, I am incredibly happy to leave behind the anxiety of back-to-back temporary contracts and the systemic uncertainty that clouds life during academic transitions.

How did the IMPRS-APS support/shape your development – professionally and personally?

Professionally, the regular poster sessions and presentations were fantastic training grounds for technical and scientific communication, helping me view my own research through a broader lens. The soft-skill workshops were also incredibly insightful. As a PhD student, it was particularly eye-opening to see the diverse career trajectories of previous graduates through alumni meetings and talks. Coming from an environment where academia was the primary path we knew, it was highly reassuring to learn firsthand what life and career opportunities looked like on the outside. On a personal note, as an international student, the German language courses provided by the school were vital. They helped me integrate into the local community, leading to a much healthier work-life harmony during my studies. Lastly, the IMPRS network is phenomenal—having a large cohort of alumni working in the industry around Munich continues to be an invaluable asset.

What's a particularly memorable moment from your time at IMPRS-APS that stands out to you?

Without a doubt, my fondest memories are from our annual retreats at Ringberg Castle. The combination of intense, sleep-deprived scientific talks during the day, followed by late-night board games and deep chats with peers, made it unforgettable.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their PhD, in particular also students at the IMPRS-APS?

During your PhD, you will build and work with incredible, cutting-edge technologies. For anyone with even a slight commercial inclination, your time at the institute is the absolute best window to assess whether your research has market potential. Take advantage of your university affiliation to explore technology transfer and spin-off opportunities—navigating that public-to-private bridge becomes significantly harder once you leave the academic ecosystem. I truly wish someone had given me that advice earlier in my journey!