We used quantum dot superconductor hybrids to reliably engineer and study Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in a scalable and flexible two-dimensional platform (arXiv, Nature Comm.). We revealed the microscopic processes that govern the interactions between quantum dots (Phys. Rev. X), leading to the formation of Majoranas. We showed theoretically (arXiv) and experimentally (arXiv) how strong coupling to a superconductor gives rise to more protected MZMs. Moving towards a Majorana-based qubit we demonstrated experimental techniques for spin-filtered measurements (Nature Comm.), fast gate-sensing (arXiv), and charge-sensing (arXiv) of hybrid systems, and developed new protocols for the manipulation of MZMs (Phys. Rev. B).

Using a nanowire transmon hosting a quantum dot inside its Josephson junction, we studied how the spin-orbit coupling allows for direct driving of the spin transition of the quantum dot (Phys. Rev. Lett.). Moreover, we implemented a novel superconducting spin qubit in the same platform (Nature Physics) and demonstrated tunable long-distance coupling between distant superconducting spin qubits (arXiv). We also used similar hybrid nanowires to develop a new kind of gate-tunable parametric amplifier (Phys. Rev. Applied), capable of providing on-chip amplification for cryogenic quantum circuits. Our research on fluxonium qubits has allowed us to develop a novel flux-pulse-assisted readout scheme (arXiv) that offers significant improvements in the signal-to-noise ratio for reading out protected qubits.