Samuel Sahel-Schackis
I am a Physics PhD candidate at Stanford University with a PhD minor in Computer Science, conducting research at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. My work explores ultrafast light-matter interactions, investigating chemical reactions and material dynamics at their most fundamental timescales (very very fast: 10-18–10-9 seconds). I integrate large-scale experimental campaigns with ML-based simulations to model complex physical systems. Previously, I contributed to research initiatives and startups in the nuclear energy sector.
Research
My current research centers on nanocatalysis and altermagnetism, investigating how nanoparticles catalyze light-induced chemical processes and exploring the potential of altermagnetic materials for next-generation spintronics. I am advised by Prof. Matthias Kling, within the Ultrafast Electronics and Nanophotonics group, with my work supported by the US Department of Energy.
My experimental investigations are conducted at the world's most advanced light sources; I have led research at all five premier X-ray Free Electron Lasers (LCLS, EuXFEL, SwissFEL, SACLA, and PAL-XFEL), in addition to other major international facilities including FLASH, SSRL, ESRF, BESSY, and MeV-UED. To complement these large-scale experiments, I develop deep Reinforcement Learning and Neural Network-based frameworks to model complex physical systems and analyze high-throughput experimental data.
Experience
I have worked on- A Stealth Startup raising Series A in 2026
- Isolated terahertz magnetic fields for quantum spin flipping with Prof. Paul Corkum
- A new membrane material for solid-state batteries with Prof. Steven Chu
- Next-generation nuclear fission at Transmutex
- Inertial Confinement Fusion at the French National Research Center
- Magnetic Confinement Fusion at ITER
- Laser-plasma interactions and accelerator technology with Prof. Gérard Mourou as an undergraduate at Ecole Polytechnique