Subir Sachdev

Subir Sachdev is the Herchel Smith Professor of Physics at Harvard University. He has held the Department of Physics Chair (2018-2020) and been a faculty member since 2005. His research explores quantum condensed matter theory, focusing on quantum criticality, spin liquids, and holographic connections between quantum materials and black holes.

• Education: MIT (S.B., 1982), Harvard (A.M., 1984; Ph.D., 1985).
• Visiting Appointments: International Centre for Theoretical Physics (2024-2028), Indian Academy of Sciences (2023-2024), College de France (2022), Perimeter Institute (2014-2025), and others.

Research Interests: Sachdev's work bridges quantum entanglement in materials with black hole physics. Key contributions include:

• The Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model for non-Fermi liquids and strange metals.
• Quantum spin liquids and fractionalized Fermi liquids.
• Quantum phase transitions in metals and insulators.
• Applications of holography to condensed matter systems.

Publications: The 2022 Reviews of Modern Physics article on SYK models represents a cornerstone of his recent work, connecting quantum materials to gravitational phenomena. His books Quantum Phase Transitions and Quantum Phases of Matter (2023 PROSE Award winner) are foundational texts in the field.

Scientific Recognition: Notable awards include the Dirac Medal (2018), Onsager Prize (2018), and election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2014) and The Royal Society (2023). He has received fellowships from Guggenheim (2003), Sloan (1989), and the American Physical Society (2001).

Advising & Lectures: Sachdev mentors students in quantum matter and has delivered plenary talks at major conferences like SCES 2025 and the ICTP-SISSA Colloquium (2024). His public lectures, including the 2023 Raman Chair lecture, emphasize accessible explanations of complex quantum phenomena.