Johanna Fischer, CNRS Researcher at the SPINTEC Laboratory, Receives the 2025 EMA Young Scientist Award
The 2025 Young Scientist Award from the European Magnetism Association (EMA) has been awarded to Johanna Fischer, CNRS researcher at the SPINTEC laboratory in Grenoble. Between Munich and Grenoble, her career reflects boundless curiosity and a strong conviction: research must be rigorous, collaborative, and rooted in reality. In a conversation conducted as part of the SPIN Research Program, she shares her journey, projects, and vision for spintronics
Johanna Fischer did not choose science by chance. Behind her path lies a story of curiosity and openness. Originally from Germany, she discovered physics in Munich and quickly became captivated by experimental research. A research internship in France would soon change the course of her career.
I wanted to come to France — not necessarily to Paris; there are no mountains in Paris
Her first steps in research took place at the Albert Fert Laboratory, thanks to an Erasmus+ opportunity. There, she learned the hands-on techniques, rigor, and patience required of an experimental physicist. Her encounter with Manuel Bibes, a leading researcher in spintronics, proved decisive. At the end of that internship, a door opened: the opportunity to pursue a PhD in France.
From Germany to Grenoble: A Borderless Journey
After completing a Master’s degree in Munich, where she focused her research on antiferromagnetic materials, Johanna delved into these intriguing systems whose magnetization cancels out on a macroscopic scale. Unlike conventional magnets, their magnetic moments align in opposite directions, creating a subtle balance between two interacting sublattices.
To better understand this invisible magnetic order, she performed electrical measurements under an external magnetic field, seeking to observe how the internal structure of these materials reacts and reorganizes. This work highlighted the close relationship between their electrical and magnetic properties.
During her PhD, she turned to a new class of materials — those that are both antiferromagnetic and ferroelectric
It’s a bit like combining small magnets with Lego bricks: by changing the base you build on, you completely change the material’s behavior.
These materials not only exhibit opposite magnetic poles (north and south) that cancel each other out globally but also have electric poles (positive and negative) organized according to their crystalline structure. These two orders — magnetic and electric — are intimately coupled at the atomic scale.
Her work involved growing these materials on different substrates, i.e., supports with varying sizes and constraints. By adjusting the tension between the film and its substrate, she could tune the material’s structure and observe how its magnetic and electric properties evolved together. Changing one affected the other — for instance, applying an electric field could influence not only the electric charges but also the orientation of the magnetic poles.
This passion for detail, combined with a strong practical sense, pushed her to go further. After her PhD, she considered a postdoctoral position abroad — in Japan or Australia — but the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped her plans. Ultimately, she settled in Grenoble, joining the SPINTEC laboratory for a postdoctoral fellowship before becoming a CNRS researcher within the Sensors team.
Characterization of magnetic field sensors in a 3D coil, with daily scientific discussions with Hélène Béa.
Tunnel magnetoresistance sensors surrounded by magnetic flux concentrators to enhance their sensitivity. Development of a sensor for space exploration in collaboration with CNES.
Noise measurement setup for the characterization of magnetic field sensors.
Spintronics within the PEPR SPIN Program
Spintronics — a contraction of “spin” and “electronics” — is a rapidly expanding field. It studies the spin of electrons, a quantum property related to magnetism, to develop faster, more energy-efficient, and more compact components. It’s an area where fundamental physics meets technological innovation.
Johanna found an ideal playground in this field. Her current research focuses on magnetic field sensors, discreet yet ubiquitous components found in everyday technologies — cars, smartphones, MRI systems, navigation devices, and more.
Magnetic sensors are everywhere, often without us realizing it. Improving them using ideas born from fundamental research is truly exciting.
Her goal: to design more sensitive, lower-noise sensors capable of detecting extremely weak signals — a challenge at the crossroads of materials physics and engineering.
SpinFab: A Collective Endeavor
At the heart of her current work lies the SpinFab project, launched this year, embodying the spirit of innovation and collaboration. This pilot line enables the fabrication of spintronic devices on large wafers, combining multiple advanced techniques.
Johanna now supervises a PhD student, co-advised with Hélène Béa, Associate Professor at SPINTEC, with one goal: to increase sensor detectivity by optimizing noise management, thereby improving the detection sensitivity for weak signals, particularly for space applications.
It’s a delicate balance between sensitivity and noise — a very sensitive sensor picks up everything, including the noise. The challenge is to find the right balance.
She is also passionate about the VERTICAL project, which she coordinates, dedicated to detecting neuronal activity using three-dimensional magnetic sensors. This initiative brings together physicists, electronics engineers, and neuroscientists — a fine example of interdisciplinary research.
Johanna Fischer is also involved in several PEPR SPIN projects: the targeted ADAGE project, co-led by Myriam Pannetier-Lecoeur; the Acouskyr project, resulting from the 2024 SPIN Research Program Call for Proposals (AAP), focused on skyrmions and co-led by Hélène Béa; as well as MASKY, the most recent project from the PEPR DIADEM call.
SPINTEC sensor group
Optical Kerr-effect microscopy for visualizing magnetic domains.
Planning of sample growth in the new sputtering machine, the centerpiece of the pilot line.
Recipient of the EMA Young Scientist Award
Recently honored with the EMA Young Scientist Award, Johanna joins the ranks of promising European researchers recognized by the European Magnetism Association (EMA) for excellence in magnetism research — both fundamental and applied.
The award recognizes a scientist who earned their PhD less than five years ago and supports the EMA’s mission to encourage the next generation of scientists and engineers. It complements the Dominique Givord Prize, awarded every three years to a distinguished figure in the European magnetism community.
Johanna Fischer received her award, on August 27, 2025, at the Joint European Magnetic Symposia (JEMS) — the largest European conference dedicated to magnetism. This annual event brings together the scientific community around the latest breakthroughs, from fundamental discoveries to cutting-edge applications. As a laureate, Johanna gave a plenary lecture at the 2025 edition.
For her, success is not only measured in awards or publications but also in the quality of exchanges and collaborations.
At SPINTEC, I’ve really found a community. We share machines, ideas, and even mistakes. It feels more like a family than a lab.
When asked about the future of spintronics, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining a critical mindset, especially with the growing presence of artificial intelligence in research. Far from rejecting it, she sees AI as a powerful tool — provided it’s used with discernment.
AI can help with writing, correcting, and analyzing — but you need to keep a human perspective, to know when it’s wrong. Science must remain a critical process.
“None of This Happens Alone”
For Johanna, research is above all a human adventure. Every breakthrough results from collective effort, from constant exchanges with colleagues, engineers, PhD students, and partners. It is this team dynamic — built on sharing, curiosity, and cooperation — that continually fuels her passion for science.
Combination of Kerr-effect microscopy (magnetic domain imaging) with detectivity measurements of the Skyrmion sensor. Collaboration with colleagues Myriam Pannetier-Lecoeur, Aurélie Solignac, Claude Fermon, and Mariana Caseiro from LNO/SPEC, and Alexandra Mougin from LPS in Saclay.
On the right, the team seen from the experiment’s perspective. On the left, the team at work, accompanied by the laboratory management and the author of the article.
