Chris Leighton

Chris Leighton is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Distinguished University Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota, holding dual appointments in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and as a graduate faculty member in Physics. He leads the Leighton Research Group, focusing on electronic and magnetic materials with applications in data storage and devices. His work spans nanostructures, thin films, heterostructures, and bulk materials, employing advanced characterization techniques like neutron scattering and magnetometry.

• Affiliations: Director of the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), DOE Center for Quantum Materials (CQM), and Lead Editor of Physical Review Materials.
• Education: BSc in Physics (Durham University, 1994), PhD in Condensed Matter Physics (Durham, 1998), postdoctoral research at UC San Diego (1998–2001).

Research interests include electrolyte gating, perovskite oxides, metallic delafossites, spin transport, and transition metal sulfides. His group collaborates with two major centers at UMN, emphasizing interdisciplinary materials research and education. Awards include APS Fellowship, IEEE Fellowship, and multiple teaching accolades.

Publications highlight innovations in voltage-controlled magnetism, thermal conductivity modulation, and spin valve optimization. His lab houses a state-of-the-art facility for electronic and magnetic characterization, accessible to UMN and external researchers.

• Grants and Funding: NSF MRSEC, DOE CQM, and numerous grants supporting his work on quantum materials and energy-efficient technologies.
• Labs/Teams: Leighton Lab, CEMS Electronic/Magnetic Characterization Facility, and collaborative efforts with MRSEC and CQM.