CAREER Award to encourage quantum materials research program

Physicist Jin Hu has been awarded the Faculty’s second College of Early Career Development (CAREER) award, this time from the National Science Foundation. The new award of $579,527 comes two years after Hu received the $750,000 CAREER Award from the US Department of Energy.

The NSF and DOE CAREER awards are considered the most competitive and prestigious awards to honor faculty members in the early stages of their careers. The award supports research and educational activities. It is rare for an investigator to receive two CAREER awards.

Hu, an assistant professor of physics in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, leads the Quantum Materials group at University A. Researchers in this group study a variety of quantum materials — materials that exhibit exotic physical properties that arise from the quantum mechanical effects of electrons, such as superconductors, materials two-dimensional and material topology. This group aims to discover new physics and new materials with advanced functionality.

This CAREER award supports Hu’s investigation of topological quantum materials. Such materials carry electrons that resemble the particles found in high-energy physics. The investigation of these materials has led to deeper knowledge of important topics in physics. Topological quantum materials also display a kaleidoscope of new properties with great promise for technological applications, such as very high mobility or zero energy loss during power transmission for energy efficient devices.

The DOE CAREER award supports Hu’s study of the unusual properties of topological quantum materials arising from interactions between electrons. The new NSF project targets other directions of electrical control for phases and properties. Achieving a switchable quantum phase is an important step towards applying the technology of such emerging quantum materials and could open up new areas of research.

“I am pleased to receive this award, which will help me build and strengthen our research program,” said Hu. “I have benefited greatly from many great physics and engineering colleagues, and I appreciate the hard work of the students who laid the foundation for this research.”

The study of quantum materials is an important element of the National Quantum Initiative. Over the past few years, the U of A has developed its research and education programs in this national strategic direction, as represented by large-scale research centers sponsored by federal agencies such as the NSF MonArk Quantum Foundry and µ-ATOMS EFRC DOE, which are positioning the university as a national leader. in materials science research. Hu contributed to both centers.

“Dr. Hu’s world-class expertise in the growth and study of high-quality quantum materials plays a critical role in these centers,” said Lin Oliver, professor and chair of the Physics Department.

The highly collaborative research programs of these centers and faculty CAREER awards encourage quantum materials research at U of A to achieve research excellence, one of U of A’s three strategic priority areas.

“Dr. Hu’s success in winning two CAREER awards underscores the importance of his research on quantum materials And its commitment to integrating research into the education of its students, said Kathy Sloan, interim dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “We are very proud of his achievements.”