Modern technologies and cutting-edge science increasingly operate at cryogenic temperatures where quantum effects dominate, yet the materials that support them are largely designed for classical, room-temperature environments. This disconnect motivates a central question: can we harness quantum instabilities to create materials with enhanced functionality for emerging low-temperature applications? My research explores materials poised near quantum phase transitions, where small perturbations produce large responses, enabling massive tunability in optical, electrical, and thermal properties. By designing and integrating such materials, I will realize new capabilities supporting quantum information systems, including efficient optical interconnects, cooling technologies, and nonlinear electronic devices for scaling. At the same time, I aim to uncover new paradigms in materials design, where quantum instability is engineered to unlock performance beyond conventional limits.
Awards and Achievements
- James P. Gordon Memorial Prize, Optica ( 2026)
- Young Faculty Award, DARPA ( 2025)
- Frontiers of Engineering, National Academy of Engineering ( 2025)
- Young Investigator Award, AFOSR ( 2025)
- CAREER Award, NSF ( 2025)
- Google Academic Research Award ( 2024)
- Intelligence Community Research Fellowship ( 2022)
- Quantum Creators Prize, Chicago Quantum Exchange ( 2022)
- NDSEG Research Fellowship ( 2014)