Jun Ye

Jun Ye is a Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Fellow of JILA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he leads cutting-edge research in quantum science and precision measurement. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences, he directs the YeLabs research group focused on advancing atomic clocks and fundamental physics.

His work pioneers quantum-state-resolved laser spectroscopy of nuclear transitions (notably thorium-229) and develops optical lattice clocks with unprecedented accuracy. These breakthroughs enable tests of fundamental physical laws, searches for new physics beyond the standard model, and applications in quantum information science through controlled light-matter interactions.

Professor Ye's accolades include five US Commerce Department Gold Medals, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the N.F. Ramsey Prize, dual I.I. Rabi honors (APS and IEEE), the W.F. Meggers Award, Niels Bohr Institute Medal, Herbert Walther Award, and Vannevar Bush Fellowship.

He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers through YeLabs, co-authored over 400 publications, and delivered 700+ invited talks worldwide, demonstrating significant leadership in atomic physics and quantum technology development.

The YeLabs group operates state-of-the-art facilities for ultracold atom experiments, optical frequency combs, and precision spectroscopy, driving innovations in timekeeping standards and quantum simulation with implications for navigation, sensing, and fundamental physics exploration.