David Weld

David Weld is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he leads the Weld Lab focused on experimental ultracold atomic physics. He received his B.A. in physics from Harvard University and Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University, followed by postdoctoral work at MIT before joining UCSB's faculty. Weld serves as co-director of UCSB's Eddleman Center for Quantum Innovation and as co-design lead for quantum simulation for the U.S. Department of Energy's Quantum Science Center.

His research specializes in using quantum degenerate gases to explore quantum dynamical phenomena, with particular focus on quantum simulation, quantum thermodynamics, Floquet engineering, quasicrystals, and quantum metrology. The Weld group has made significant contributions to understanding kicked quantum matter, quantum emulation of ultrafast phenomena, and defect-adsorbate quantum interfaces.

Weld's recent publications reveal a strong focus on quantum simulation of complex phenomena including light-induced phases in 2D materials, Floquet-Bloch band structures, quantum boomerang effects, and quantum phase transitions in quasicrystals. His work increasingly bridges fundamental quantum physics with potential quantum technology applications.

• Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator (2023)
• Chancellor's Faculty Award for Undergraduate Research Mentoring (2020-2021)
• Elected to DAMOP Executive Committee of the American Physical Society

Professor Weld has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students who have gone on to prestigious postdoctoral positions and awards, including multiple Goldwater Scholars. His lab participates in major collaborative initiatives including the NSF's Quantum Leap Challenge Institute and the DOE's Quantum Science Center. Weld's current Moore Foundation project investigates the role of feedback and measurement in quantum systems, potentially advancing quantum error correction techniques.