Juan Maldonado

Juan is a Colombian physicist and PhD researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Physics, with a background shaped by international research experiences spanning the National University of Colombia, Purdue University, the University of Bonn, and research experiences at DESY and CERN. driven by a deep fascination with astroparticle physics and the fundamental questions of the universe. He is particularly interested in the development and implementation of quantum-limited and sub-quantum-limited sensing schemes in cryogenic conditions. His research aims to push the limits of sensitivity needed to probe axions and other elusive phenomena in experiments such as MADMAX and BREAD.

Beyond his technical work, he values clear science communication and inclusive teaching, shaped in part by his volunteer experience supporting students from low-income backgrounds. He maintains a broad curiosity spanning physics, astronomy, philosophy of science, theology, and the arts, particularly music. Looking ahead, he aspires to advance the field of fundamental physics—identifying dark matter, and helping build the next generation of quantum sensors.