Alexey A. Soluyanov
(20.10.1983 - 26.10.2019)

Senior Researcher

Alexey Alexandrovich Soluyanov studied Physics at the Division of Quantum Mechanics of St. Petersburg State University and defended his master's degree under the advising of Igor Vasilyevich Abarenkov. In 2007, Alexey entered Rutgers University (USA), where earned his Ph.D. in 2012 under David Vanderbilt. He then worked at ETH, first as a postdoc and then as a senior scientist. Since 2016, Aleksey was a part-time worker at St. Petersburg State University as a senior researcher at the Divistion of Quantum Mechanics. Starting in 2018 he has been leading his own research group as a Swiss National Science Foundation professor at the Department of Physics of the University of Zurich.

Alexey Soluyanov was one of the world's leading experts in the theory of topological effects of solid state physics. His contributions to the field of topological states of matter have been both foundational and groundbreaking. His works have lead to a deeper understanding of the band theory of crystalline materials. In addition to this fundamental work, he has predicted multiple classes of semimetals, which were experimentally discovered shortly thereafter. Furthermore, he developed various software packages, which have simplified the discovery of new exotic quantum materials. In his work, Alexey was distinguished by farsightedness and outstanding physical intuition. From early in his career, he has served as the advisor to the very successful theses projects of several doctoral students. In the last years of his life, Alexey Alexandrovich hard struggled against serious illness. Despite the illness, during this period he managed to do his best works.

Alexey Soluyanov has passed from us on October 26 2019, much too early, at the age of 36 years.

Alexey was a very talented and highly educated person, versed in art and music, was fond of travelling. In communicating with colleagues and students, he was always friendly and delicate, had an excellent sense of humor, was a good friend, always ready to help his colleagues. Alexey Soluyanov will be forever remembered by everyone, who was lucky to meet him.