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Andrea Young is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), where they lead the Young Lab. The lab investigates quantum materials through nanofabrication and electronic measurement techniques. Affiliation: University of California Santa Barbara (Department of Physics) Research Interests: Andrea Young's work focuses on the interplay of symmetry, topology, and correlations in low-dimensional systems, particularly exploring superconductivity, magnetism, and fractionalization in graphene and van der Waals heterostructures . They utilize cryogenic measurements and heterostructure engineering to probe thermodynamic properties of these materials. Publication Trends: Recent articles emphasize twisted bilayer/trilayer graphene , moiré superlattices , and fractional quantum Hall effects , with keywords spanning condensed matter physics, quantum materials, and nanofabrication. Scientific Awards: Moore Foundation grant (2020) NSF fellowship (2020) CAREER award (2017) Advising: Andrea Young has advised PhD students such as Dr. Haoxin Zhou (2021) and Dr. Marec Serlin (2021). Their lab also supports research fellows like James Ehrets, who received an NSF fellowship in 2020. Labs & Teams: The Young Lab at UCSB specializes in creating van der Waals heterostructures and developing techniques like picosecond transport and nanoscale interferometry to study fragile electronic states.

• Quantum Materials
• Two-dimensional Systems
• Graphene
• +7 more

Hao Su is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at University of California, San Diego . He serves as Chairman & CTO of Hillbot Inc , and leads the SU Lab which focuses on building autonomous systems that learn actively in physical environments. His affiliations include the Institute for Learning-enabled Optimization at Scale , Artificial Intelligence Group , Contextual Robotics Institute , Halicioğlu Data Science Institute , and Center for Visual Computing . As a researcher in Computer Vision, Robotics, and Neural Geometry , he has made significant contributions to 3D foundation models, reward-free world models, diffusion policy frameworks, and GPU-accelerated simulation environments. His 2024-2025 publications include advancements in hand-eye calibration, dynamic mesh reconstruction, and multi-stage robotic manipulation. His scientific awards include: Frontiers of Science Award (2025) TPAMI Young Research Award (2025) NSF CAREER Award (2023) ACM SIGGRAPH Best Doctorate Thesis Honorable Mention (2019) He has served as Program Chair for CVPR 2025 and Area Chair for ICLR 2022 and NeurIPS 2023 , while previously serving as Publication Chair for 3DV 2016 and Program Committee for SIGGRAPH Asia Workshops .

• Computer Vision
• Robotics
• 3D Data Understanding
• +3 more

Ali Yazdani is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Grainger College of Engineering, Department of Physics, and Director of the Princeton Center for Complex Materials at Princeton University. His research focuses on quantum condensed matter physics, leveraging scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy to explore novel quantum phases in materials such as graphene, twisted bilayer graphene, and topological insulators. Key achievements include the first direct observation of Hofstadter's fractal energy spectrum in quantum materials (2025), studies on Majorana fermions in atomic chains, and investigations into strongly correlated Chern insulators. His work bridges theoretical predictions with experimental validation, emphasizing quantum materials' topological and correlated properties. Affiliations: Princeton University, Department of Physics; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Grainger College of Engineering. Research Themes: Quantum fractals, topological insulators, superconductivity, Majorana fermions, moiré materials. Research Summary: Dr. Yazdani’s lab employs advanced STM techniques to visualize electronic wavefunctions and study correlated phases. Notable projects include: - Visualization of Hofstadter’s butterfly in twisted bilayer graphene. - Discovery of valley skyrmions in graphene quantum Hall ferromagnets. - Unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene. - Development of methods to detect Majorana zero modes. Labs/Teams: Yazdani Lab at Princeton University focuses on quantum materials and topological phases, collaborating with theorists and experimentalists globally.

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Fractals
• Topological Insulators
• +5 more

Ravindra N. Bhatt is currently a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University and an associated faculty member in Physics. His academic career spans leadership roles at prestigious institutions, including Director of the Princeton Center for Complex Materials (1999-2005) and Acting Associate Director of the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science (2005-2012). He previously headed Theoretical Physics Research at Bell Laboratories. Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana, 1976 M.S., Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1974 B.Sc. Hons., Physics, University of Delhi, India, 1971 Bhatt specializes in theoretical condensed matter physics, focusing on topological materials, quantum Hall effects, and spin-based quantum computation. His work explores disordered systems, many-body localization, and quantum dynamics in low-dimensional structures like graphene and semiconductor heterostructures. His recent publications emphasize topological phases, composite fermions, and critical ground state dynamics, employing methods such as Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) and Monte Carlo simulations. Key themes include disorder-driven quantum phase transitions and applications in quantum information science. Scientific honors include: Fellow, American Physical Society (1986) Guggenheim Fellowship (1995) Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2004) Bhatt has led major research centers at Princeton and contributed to quantum science initiatives. His group utilizes computational techniques like Transfer Matrix Methods and Sparse Matrix Diagonalization to study complex materials.

• Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Materials Science
• Topological Materials
• +4 more

Prof. Harry Hyungryul Baik is a Tenured Associate Professor at KAIST's Department of Mathematical Sciences since 2017. He holds a PhD from Cornell University (2014) and a B.S. from KAIST (2009), advised by William Thurston, John Hubbard, and Dylan Thurston. His research focuses on geometric topology, geometric group theory, and low-dimensional topology, with notable contributions to mapping class groups, Kleinian groups, and Teichmüller theory. Education: PhD in Mathematics (Cornell, 2014), B.S. in Mathematics (KAIST, 2009). Key research areas include asymptotic translation lengths, laminar groups, and circular orders of groups. He co-leads the KAIST-KIAS joint research group 2K-GATE as Director, emphasizing collaboration between topologists. Research highlights: Characterization of Fuchsian groups via laminations, unsmoothability of mapping class group actions on 1-manifolds, and exponential torsion growth in random 3-manifolds. His work bridges topology with dynamical systems and geometric group theory, often involving collaborations with institutions like KIAS and MPIM. Awards include the Sangsan Prize (2018), Young-KAST membership (2020–2023), and multiple grants from Samsung and POSCO. He advises 7 PhD students and has mentored 15+ alumni, many of whom hold postdoc positions globally. His lab actively hosts conferences like the KAIST Geometric Topology Fair. Labs/Teams: Director of 2K-GATE (KAIST-KIAS), core member of the KAIST Topology Research Group, collaborator with international networks including the Harvard-MIT-Princeton topology axis.

• Geometric Topology
• Geometric Group Theory
• Low-Dimensional Topology
• +6 more

Mona Merling is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2014) under Peter May. Prior to Penn, she was a J.J. Sylvester Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University. Her research focuses on algebraic K-theory, its applications to number theory and manifold theory, and equivariant stable homotopy theory. She has held research positions at institutions like the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) and the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics. Merling teaches advanced courses in algebraic topology, homotopy theory, and calculus, including innovative programs like the Penn Directed Reading Program and collaborations with the Prison Teaching Initiative to provide education in incarcerated settings. She organizes conferences and workshops, such as the Algebraic Topology Bridge Summer Workshop, fostering accessibility in topology education. Her research explores cutting-edge topics like scissors congruence K-theory, equivariant infinite loop space theory, and parametrized cobordism categories. Recent work includes collaborations on derived scissors congruence and multiplicative equivariant K-theory, with applications to geometric and algebraic structures. Her grants include funding for social justice initiatives in education.

• Algebraic K-Theory
• Equivariant Stable Homotopy Theory
• Manifold Theory
• +3 more

Rohil Prasad is a Miller Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, appointed in 2023, and will join Princeton University as an Assistant Professor in 2025. His research lies at the intersection of geometry, topology, and dynamical systems, with a particular focus on conservative dynamics, pseudoholomorphic curves, and Floer theory. Education: PhD in Mathematics, Princeton University (2018–2023), advised by Helmut Hofer Research Interests: Prasad’s work spans several deep areas of modern mathematics, including: Conservative Dynamics: Studying systems that preserve volume or symplectic structures. Symplectic Geometry: Exploring geometric structures preserved under Hamiltonian flows. Low-Dimensional Topology: Investigating the topology of 3- and 4-dimensional manifolds. Floer Theory: Using pseudoholomorphic curves to study periodic orbits and invariants. His research has led to significant advances in understanding periodic orbits, invariant measures, and the structure of area-preserving maps. Awards and Honors: 2024 Brin Dynamical Systems Prize for Young Mathematicians Contact: rrprasad@berkeley.edu | Office: 968 Evans Hall

• Geometry
• Topology
• Dynamical Systems
• +6 more

Megan Kerr serves as the Katharine and Claudine Malone '63 Professor of Mathematics at Wellesley College, where she teaches across the mathematics curriculum from calculus to advanced topics in geometry. Her academic home is within the Mathematics & Statistics Department at this prestigious women's liberal arts college. Her educational journey began as an undergraduate at Wellesley College, where she later returned as faculty, completing a full circle in her academic career. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania under the supervision of Wolfgang Ziller, with research focused on Homogeneous Einstein Metrics. Professor Kerr's research centers on global differential geometry, particularly exploring the interplay between curvature constraints and large symmetry groups. She specializes in homogeneous and low-cohomogeneity spaces, investigating fundamental questions about the existence of geometric structures, their rarity or commonality, and potential obstructions. Her work bridges the analytic concept of curvature with the algebraic framework of Lie groups, and she has recently expanded into geometric analysis where topology plays a significant role. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent focus on homogeneous Einstein metrics across three decades, with particular attention to curvature properties, symmetry constraints, and classification problems in both positive and negative curvature settings. Her research has evolved from foundational work on symmetric spaces to more complex non-symmetric examples and specialized curvature conditions, demonstrating both depth and breadth in differential geometry. Katharine and Claudine Malone '63 Professor of Mathematics Radcliffe Institute Fellowship As an alumna of Wellesley College, Professor Kerr maintains a strong commitment to encouraging women in mathematics. She teaches a diverse range of courses including calculus, linear algebra, combinatorics, real analysis, non-Euclidean geometry, differential geometry, topology, knot theory, and matrix groups as an introduction to Lie groups. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes developing mathematical understanding and confidence that benefits students regardless of their major. Her research has taken her to international destinations including Australia, Germany, and Mexico, reflecting the global nature of her scholarly collaborations.

• Differential Geometry
• Riemannian Geometry
• Lie Groups
• +3 more

Dr. Arpit Dua is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech. Previously, he held positions including a joint Simons-IQIM postdoc at Caltech under Xie Chen and a PhD at Yale University under Meng Cheng and Liang Jiang. His research focuses on theoretical quantum information systems, with emphasis on quantum error correction, topological order, and integrating machine learning principles into physics frameworks. Education: PhD in Physics from Yale University, Postdoctoral research at Caltech. Research Interests: Quantum error correction (developing novel codes using conventional and machine learning methods), thermalization in topological systems, self-correcting models, and applying physics-based insights to AI architecture design. His current projects explore fault-tolerant protocols, fracton orders, and Floquet codes. Publications reflect contributions to topological codes, subsystem symmetries, and fracton physics. His work bridges quantum information theory with condensed matter physics.

• Theoretical Quantum Information Systems
• Quantum Error Correction
• Topological Order
• +4 more

Ciprian Manolescu is a Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University, where he joined after serving as a professor at UCLA since 2008. He holds both his undergraduate degree and doctorate from Harvard University, advised by Peter Kronheimer. His research focuses on gauge theory, low-dimensional topology, and symplectic geometry, with notable contributions to Heegaard Floer theory, Khovanov homology, and the resolution of the Triangulation Conjecture. Manolescu’s academic accolades include the 2019 E.H. Moore Research Article Prize, the 2012 European Mathematical Society Prize, and a 2004 Clay Research Fellowship. He delivered an invited lecture at the 2018 International Congress of Mathematicians and became a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2017. His work bridges advanced algebraic structures with geometric problems, particularly in understanding manifold invariants and topological constraints. His teaching includes the Polya Problem Solving Seminar (Math 193) at Stanford, and he advises students competing in the Putnam Mathematics Competition. Research trends in his publications emphasize applications of Floer homology to knot theory, 4-manifold topology, and the interplay between algebraic topology and quantum field theories. Education: PhD and BA in Mathematics, Harvard University Key Research Themes: Floer homology frameworks, geometric topology, knot invariants, and manifold classification Grants & Collaborations: Involved in NSF-funded projects like the FRG: Collaborative Research: Floer Homotopy Theory (2016)

• Geometry
• Topology
• Gauge Theory
• +4 more

Yuan Cao is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, since July 2024. He completed his BSc in Applied Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China (2014), followed by an MS (2016) and PhD (2020) in Electrical Engineering at MIT. Before joining Berkeley, he was a Junior Fellow at Harvard University (2021–2024). His research focuses on the electrical properties of low-dimensional materials and their applications via nanotechnology, including MEMS. Notable achievements include pioneering work on twisted graphene superconductivity, recognized as a Nature’s 10 highlight (2018) and Physics Breakthrough of the Year . He has received awards such as the Sackler Prize in Physics (2020), McMillan Award (2021), and NSF CAREER Award (2025). His research integrates experimental physics, nanofabrication, and low-temperature transport to explore novel quantum phenomena in 2D materials. Recent breakthroughs include the MEGA2D platform, an on-chip MEMS system enabling precise manipulation of 2D materials. Collaborations with Prof. Nguyen secured a $1M DARPA NIMBUS contract, and his NSF CAREER award funds studies on reconfigurable graphene superlattices. Education: PhD, Electrical Engineering, MIT (2020) MS, Electrical Engineering, MIT (2016) BSc, Applied Physics, USTC (2014) Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2025) Sackler Prize in Physics (2020) McMillan Award (2021) TIME 100 Next (2019) Grants & Funding: $1M DARPA NIMBUS Program Contract (2023) $810K NSF CAREER Award (2025) Prof. Cao’s lab actively recruits motivated graduate students and postdocs with expertise in 2D materials, MEMS, nanofabrication, or low-temperature physics. The lab is part of UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering, fostering interdisciplinary research at the forefront of quantum and nanoscale systems.

• Physical Electronics
• MEMS
• Low-Dimensional Materials
• +5 more

Clay Córdova is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, associated with the Enrico Fermi Institute, James Franck Institute, Kadanoff Center, and Kavli Institute. His research focuses on theoretical physics, particularly quantum field theory, non-invertible symmetries, and their applications in particle and condensed matter physics. Córdova’s work explores topological phases, gauge theories, and string theory, with recent contributions to non-invertible symmetry classification and their role in phase transitions. His research interests include categorical symmetries, topological defects, and anomaly matching in quantum field theories. He has pioneered studies on soliton-particle degeneracies, anyon condensation mechanisms, and anomalies in non-invertible symmetry frameworks. Córdova’s work bridges high-energy physics with condensed matter systems, often employing advanced mathematical techniques from category theory and algebraic topology. His 2023 Sloan Research Fellowship highlights recognition of his contributions. Key research trends span non-invertible symmetries across dimensions, topological field theory applications, and interdisciplinary methods combining machine learning with lattice gauge theory. Current projects include exploring duality defects, gapped phase obstructions, and symmetry-enriched phases in (3+1)D systems.

• Theoretical Physics
• Quantum Field Theory
• Particle Physics
• +3 more

Hannah Hoganson is an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland, mentored by Christian Rosendal after previously holding a Brin Postdoctoral Fellowship under Lei Chen. Her research bridges geometric group theory, low-dimensional topology, and descriptive set theory, with a focus on mapping class groups of infinite-type surfaces and topological groups. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Utah (2022) advised by Ken Bromberg, and prior graduate studies at Miami University where she investigated Thompson's groups. She has taught multiple calculus courses at UMD and the University of Utah, receiving exceptional student evaluations for her clarity and supportive teaching style. Hoganson's research explores the coarse geometry of mapping class groups, connections between topological groups and descriptive set theory, and geometric structures on infinite-type surfaces. Her work often combines algebraic, geometric, and topological methods to address fundamental questions about group actions and classification problems in low-dimensional topology. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary approaches, integrating geometric group theory with descriptive set theory to analyze infinite-type mapping class groups and Polish groups. Key themes include geometric finiteness, coarse boundedness, and the interplay between algebraic structures and topological dynamics in infinite settings. NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (DMS-2303365) Brin Postdoctoral Fellowship Hoganson has advised an undergraduate reading course in geometric group theory (Spring 2024) and served as a mentor for REU students at SUMSRI. Her current research is supported by NSF grant DMS-2303365, which funds her postdoctoral work on geometric and topological aspects of infinite-type surfaces and groups. She actively collaborates with researchers including George Domat, Sanghoon Kwak, and Robbie Lyman across multiple projects. She co-organizes the University of Maryland Geometry and Topology Seminar and has co-led specialized workshops including the Big Mapping Class Groups log cabin workshop in Young, AZ (2024) and the AWM special session on Women in Groups, Geometry and Dynamics (2023), fostering collaborative research environments in geometric topology.

• Geometric Group Theory
• Low Dimensional Topology
• Mapping Class Groups
• +4 more

Jiwoong Park is Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, and simultaneously Professor of Molecular Engineering in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. His interdisciplinary research group, the Park Group, is jointly affiliated with the James Franck Institute and the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at UChicago, and operates from the Gordon Center for Integrative Science. Education & Training Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (2003) B.S., Seoul National University (1996) Junior Fellow, Rowland Institute, Harvard University (2003–2006) Assistant → Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University (2006–2016) Research Interests Park’s research centers on the science and technology of precisely engineered nanomaterials, particularly atomically-thin two-dimensional (2D) crystals and van der Waals solids. Spanning chemistry, physics, materials science and electrical engineering, his group develops novel synthetic, imaging and characterization techniques to uncover new physical phenomena and translate them into scalable device technologies. Key thrusts include growth of wafer-scale molecular crystals, optical and transport spectroscopy of 2D semiconductors, mechanical behavior of polycrystalline nanomembranes, and integration of these materials into photonic, electronic and energy-harvesting devices. Scientific Awards Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (2022) – “for the development of synthetic, imaging, and characterization techniques of atomically thin materials and the discovery of novel properties of van der Waals solids.” Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2023) – recognition for multiple papers ranking in the global top 1% by citations in Materials Science and Chemistry. Group & Collaborations The Park Group is an interdisciplinary team of postdocs, graduate researchers and undergraduates housed in the Gordon Center for Integrative Science. The group actively collaborates with colleagues across the Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics, and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, leveraging shared facilities at the James Franck Institute and MRSEC to push the frontiers of 2D material science.

• Nanomaterials
• Atomically-thin materials
• Materials Chemistry
• +7 more

Peng Xiong is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Florida State University, with a research focus on electron and spin transport in low-dimensional quantum materials. He is affiliated with the Integrative NanoScience Institute (INSI) and has made significant contributions to mesoscale physics, spintronics, and organic/solid-state hybrid systems. B.S. in Physics (1987, University of Science and Technology of China) Ph.D. in Physics (1993, Brown University) Postdoctoral Fellowship (1993-1997, University of California at San Diego) Research Interests: Mesoscale Physics: Quantum phase transitions and fluctuation effects in 2D and 1D systems, semiconductor nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and nano-magnetism. Spintronics: Spin-polarized transport in hybrid structures (ferromagnet/normal metal, ferromagnet/superconductor, ferromagnet/semiconductor), magnetic semiconductors, and spin injection/detection. Organic/Solid-State Hybrids: Nanoscale biosensors utilizing magnetic and electrical principles, bio-mechanical devices, organic/solid interfaces, and template-directed nanostructure self-assembly. Publication Trends: His recent work spans superconducting fluctuations in ultrathin films, chirality-induced spin transport in semiconductors, interplay between structural chirality and spin-orbital effects, ion migration dynamics in 1D hybrids, quantum interference in nanowire loops, and modulation of nanomaterial properties through surface defect engineering. These studies often combine material synthesis, nanofabrication, cryogenic transport, and tunneling measurements. Scientific Recognition: Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (1998) University Teaching Award (2003) PAI Award for Excellence (2004) Developing Scholar Award (2007) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2012) Advising Legacy: He has mentored numerous graduate students including Jeffrey Parker (Ph.D. 2003) Yongqing Li (Ph.D. 2003) Tianhan Liu (Ph.D. 2021) Jacob Hudis (Ph.D. 2021) and continues to guide current candidates like Yuwaraj Adhikari and Zhenqi Hua. Experimental Facilities: The lab at FSU features advanced equipment for nano-fabrication, including clean rooms, mask aligners, and thin film deposition systems. Cryogenic capabilities extend to dilution refrigerators (15 mK) and He3/He4 cryostats for ultralow-temperature studies of magnetic and superconducting systems.

• Mesoscale Physics
• Spintronics
• Organic/Solid-State Hybrid Structures
• +1 more