Meet Eliezer Estrecho:

1) What do you do?

My work is mainly focused on studying exciton-polaritons—particles that exist in semiconductors sandwiched between two mirrors. These hybrid particles have interesting properties that enable observation and manipulation of quantum effects, like superfluidity and Bose-Einstein condensation. It is a unique system and by studying it, we hope to gain new insight about the physics non-Hermitian quantum systems, non-equilibrium many-body physics, and phase transitions, among others.

2) Where do you work?

I am a Ph.D. student doing experiments at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Our group’s website is here. While studying here, I am on study-leave from Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, Philippines.

3) Tell us about the photos!

[Top:] Me in the lab when I’m not busy.

[Bottom:] Taking a nap in Square Rock. Australia has a lot National Parks and napping is one of my favorite things to do after hiking/cycling in a park.

 4) Tell us about your academic career path so far.

● Elementary: Sta. Clara Elementary School, Zamboanga Sibugay

● High School: Ayala National High School, Zamboanga City

● BS Physics, Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City

● MS Physics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City

● PhD Physics (on-going), The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

5) Anything else you’d like to share?

I’ve been playing DOTA for more than 10 years now. When I moved to Canberra, it helped me cope with stress from work and homesickness. Add me on steam :)