Jens Kreisel

Jens Kreisel (born 1969) is a German physicist and currently serves as rector of the University of Luxembourg since 1 January 2023.^[1][2] His research covers functional materials, including phase transitions, spectroscopy and crystal structure–property relationships.^[3]

Kreisel was born in Dortmund in 1969. He studied physics and materials science in Karlsruhe, Lyon and Grenoble, and obtained a PhD in materials physics from the Grenoble Institute of Technology in 1999.^[4] He subsequently held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford.^[5]

From 2002 to 2011, Kreisel served as advisor to the President and later Deputy Vice-President for International Relations at Grenoble INP.^[6] During 2011–2012, he was a Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Warwick.^[7]

In 2012, he moved to Luxembourg to become the founding director of the Materials Research and Technology (MRT) Department at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).^[8][9] In 2013 he was awarded a PEARL grant by Luxembourg’s National Research Fund (FNR).^[10] The FNR’s 2013 annual report records that €5 million was awarded to his project.^[11]

Kreisel joined the University of Luxembourg in September 2018 as Vice-Rector for Research and Full Professor in physics and materials science.^[12] He became rector on 1 January 2023.^[13][14]

In May 2025, the University of Luxembourg joined The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.^[15] In the university’s announcement, Kreisel described the membership as “a centrepiece of our international strategy”.^[16] During his rectorate, a controversy erupted in December 2025 surrounding issues with promotion procedures and allegations of harassment and mobbing.^[17]

Kreisel has also spoken publicly about artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability.^[18][19]

Kreisel’s research focuses on functional materials, especially phase transitions and optical spectroscopy.^[20] He has authored peer-reviewed publications in journals including Physical Review B, Applied Physics Letters, Nature Reviews Physics and Nature Communications.

• Hermet, P.; Goffinet, M.; Kreisel, J.; Ghosez, P. (2007). “Raman and infrared spectra of multiferroic bismuth ferrite from first principles.” Physical Review B 75, 220102. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.75.220102.
• Shvartsman, V. V.; Kleemann, W.; Haumont, R.; Kreisel, J. (2007). “Large bulk polarization and regular domain structure in ceramic BiFeO₃.” Applied Physics Letters 90(17), 172115. doi:10.1063/1.2731312.
• Keeble, D. S.; Benabdallah, F.; Thomas, P. A.; Maglione, M.; Kreisel, J. (2013). “Revised structural phase diagram of (Ba_0.7Ca_0.3TiO₃)–(BaZr_0.2Ti_0.8O₃).” Applied Physics Letters 102(9), 092903. doi:10.1063/1.4793400.
• Nataf, G. F.; Guennou, M.; Gregg, J. M.; Meier, D.; Hlinka, J.; Salje, E. K. H.; Kreisel, J. (2020). “Domain-wall engineering and topological defects in ferroelectric and ferroelastic materials.” Nature Reviews Physics 2(11), 634–648. doi:10.1038/s42254-020-0235-z.
• Weber, M. C.; Guennou, M.; Evans, D. M.; et al.; Kreisel, J. (2022). “Emerging spin–phonon coupling through cross-talk of two magnetic sublattices.” Nature Communications 13, 443. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27267-8.

• PEARL grant, Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), 2013.^[21]
• Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Warwick (2011–2012).^[22]

• Official website
• ORBilu profile and publications