Ryan Barnett

Ryan Barnett is an Associate Professor in Condensed Matter Theory at the Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London (Faculty of Natural Sciences). He holds affiliations with the Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Physics, and Quantum Engineering, Science and Technology groups. Prior to this, he earned his PhD from Harvard University's Physics department, followed by postdoctoral research at Caltech and the Joint Quantum Institute (University of Maryland/NIST). His leadership roles include Chair of the IOP's Theory of Condensed Matter Special Interest Group (2014–2019), Director of the Applied Mathematics MSc program (2014–2019), and Director of Postgraduate Studies in Mathematics (2019–2024).

His research focuses on quantum physics, particularly ultracold atomic gases and topological condensed matter systems. Key contributions include studies on Chern insulators, vortex lattice dynamics, and topological markers. He teaches Quantum Mechanics 2 and supervises undergraduate and MSc students in applied mathematics and physics.

His recent articles (2020–2024) explore topics like Chern polarization, topological defects in superfluids, and Wannier function localization. These works highlight advancements in topological materials and quantum many-body systems, bridging theory with experimental insights.

Ryan’s work is supported by grants from the Simons Foundation and other institutions. His lab contributes to the UK’s condensed matter physics community through interdisciplinary collaborations and graduate training programs.