Rice University Launches Groundbreaking Quantum Materials Research Program at VBFF Symposium

Rice University’s Pengcheng Dai, Randall Hulet, Douglas Natelson, Han Pu, Ming Yi and Boris Yakobson attended the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF) Symposium on Extreme Quantum Materials. The event showcased research on the physics of strongly correlated quantum materials and marked the start of a five-year research programme by Qimiao Si, who won a 2023 Vannevar Bush Fellowship from the Department of Defense. The project aims to validate a framework for creating and controlling topological states of matter in quantum materials. The symposium was co-hosted by Si and Dai.

Quantum Research Symposium at Rice University

The Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF) Symposium on Extreme Quantum Materials was held at Rice University on November 9. The event was attended by over three dozen quantum researchers from around the world, including several from Rice University itself. The symposium focused on the physics of strongly correlated quantum materials.

The event also marked the beginning of a five-year research programme led by Qimiao Si, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University. Si was awarded a 2023 Vannevar Bush Fellowship from the Department of Defense to pursue the validation of a novel framework to create and control topological states of matter in quantum materials. The symposium was co-hosted by Si and fellow Rice University researcher, Pengcheng Dai.

The VBFF Project and Quantum Research

The VBFF project aims to realise new quantum materials with exotic physical properties. As part of this endeavour, the researchers plan to build a strong community to foster interactions and collaborations in this exciting area of quantum research. Si expressed gratitude to the VBFF programme for supporting their research.

The Department of Defense has shown its support for this groundbreaking research by awarding the 2023 Vannevar Bush Fellowship to Si. This fellowship will fund the five-year research programme aimed at validating a new framework for creating and controlling topological states of matter in quantum materials.

The Importance of Collaboration in Quantum Research

The symposium highlighted the importance of collaboration in the field of quantum research. By bringing together researchers from around the world, the event fostered a sense of community and encouraged interactions and collaborations. This is seen as a crucial step in advancing research in the field of quantum materials.

Rice University’s Contribution to Quantum Research

Rice University has made significant contributions to the field of quantum research. Several of its researchers, including Pengcheng Dai, Randall Hulet, Douglas Natelson, Han Pu, Ming Yi and Boris Yakobson, attended the VBFF Symposium. The university’s commitment to fostering a strong community of researchers and its support for groundbreaking research projects like the VBFF project demonstrate its role as a key player in the field of quantum research.

“We are grateful to the VBFF program for supporting our research,” Si said. “As a part of our efforts to achieve the objective of the VBFF project, which is to realize new quantum materials with exotic physical properties, we will build a strong community to foster interactions and collaborations in this exciting area of quantum research.” – Qimiao Si

Quick Summary

An international group of quantum researchers attended the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Symposium on Extreme Quantum Materials at Rice University, marking the start of a five-year research programme aimed at validating a new framework to create and control topological states of matter in quantum materials. The project, led by Professor Qimiao Si, seeks to realise new quantum materials with unique physical properties, fostering collaboration in this emerging field of quantum research.

  • The Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF) Symposium on Extreme Quantum Materials was held at Rice University on November 9, attended by over three dozen international quantum researchers.
  • The symposium showcased research on the physics of strongly correlated quantum materials.
  • The event also marked the start of a five-year research programme led by Qimiao Si, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University.
  • Si was awarded a 2023 Vannevar Bush Fellowship from the Department of Defense to validate a novel framework for creating and controlling topological states of matter in quantum materials.
  • The symposium was co-hosted by Si and Pengcheng Dai, another researcher from Rice University.
  • The VBFF project aims to realise new quantum materials with exotic physical properties, and the team plans to build a strong community to foster interactions and collaborations in this field of quantum research.
Rusty Flint

Rusty Flint

Rusty is a science nerd. He's been into science all his life, but spent his formative years doing less academic things. Now he turns his attention to write about his passion, the quantum realm. He loves all things Physics especially. Rusty likes the more esoteric side of Quantum Computing and the Quantum world. Everything from Quantum Entanglement to Quantum Physics. Rusty thinks that we are in the 1950s quantum equivalent of the classical computing world. While other quantum journalists focus on IBM's latest chip or which startup just raised $50 million, Rusty's over here writing 3,000-word deep dives on whether quantum entanglement might explain why you sometimes think about someone right before they text you. (Spoiler: it doesn't, but the exploration is fascinating.

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