18 August 2026

Photo: Rodriguez Private

After a bachelor’s degree in Cuba, a postgraduate diploma in Italy, Adriel moves to Germany to the Hamburger Sternwarte to pursue a PhD in the group of Prof. Dr. Stephan Rosswog. He feels excited to be working at a higher level than before and looks forward to his research on the unknown physics in the mergers of neutron stars.

Can you tell us a bit about what you did previously and the working title of your PhD thesis?

I got a bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Havana, Cuba in 2024 where my focus was on magnetized compact stars and equations of state for magnetized quantum gases. After that, I moved to Italy to the International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, where I did a postgraduate diploma in high-energy and astroparticle physics. Right now, the working title of my PhD thesis is “Beyond Standard Model Physics in Neutron Star Mergers," where the idea is to look for imprints of new unknown physics such as Dark Matter in the form of axions in the mergers of neutron stars.

Why did you choose to pursue a PhD with the Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe?

I have always liked to conduct research in the frontier of physics and dedicate myself to academia. It is very exciting and enthusiastic to be working at a higher level than before with amazing people such as Prof. Dr. Stephan Rosswog and his team at the Sternwarte. His research in compact stars and magnetohydrodynamics aligns perfectly with mine and moving to Hamburg and to Quantum Universe feels like a calm move and feels like the place I am supposed to be.

How does it feel after moving to Hamburg?

It feels like a chapter of my life has ended and a new one started in a different country with a different setting, with thrills for the challenges unknown. But also the usual feeling of overwhelming after moving to a new city, a new country. I like that Hamburg is a big city and look forward to creating a vibrant social life that I feel like can be made here.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about pursuing a PhD?

I would say go for it! Apply for the position regardless of what probability you think you have of getting it. You never know what happens.