Physics PhD Program

NYU Shanghai, in partnership with the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science and the NYU Department of Physics, invites applications from exceptional students for PhD study and research in Physics.
 
Participating students are enrolled in the NYU GSAS Physics PhD program, complete their coursework at the NYU Department of Physics in New York, and then transition to full-time residence at NYU Shanghai where they undertake their doctoral research under the supervision of NYU Shanghai faculty.

Highlights of the Program

  • NYU degree upon graduation
  • Graduate coursework at the NYU Department of Physics in New York
  • Research opportunities with and close mentorship by NYU Shanghai faculty
  • Access to the vast intellectual resources of NYU GSAS and NYU Department of Physics
  • Cutting-edge research environment at NYU Shanghai, including the Institute of Physics, activities such as a regular program of seminars and visiting academics, a thriving community of PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates, and links with other universities within and outside China
  • Financial aid through the NYU Shanghai Doctoral Fellowship, including tuition, fees, and an annual stipend
  • Additional benefits exclusive to the NYU Shanghai program, including international health insurance, housing assistance in New York, and travel funds
 

Supervising Faculty

  • Tim Brynes

    Tim Byrnes

    Quantum Information Technologies, Experimental Atom Chip BECs, Quantitative Biology, Relativistic Quantum Information, Fundamental Cold Atom Physics

  • Hanghui-chen

    Hanghui Chen

    First-Principles Modelling of Complex Oxides and Oxide Heterostructures

  • pilkyung-moon

    Pilkyung Moon

    Condensed Matter Theory, Electronic Properties of Atomically Thin Films, Semiconductor Nanostructures, Quantum Hall Effect

  • bing-qi

    Bing Qi

    Quantum Random Number Generation, Quantum Key Distribution, and Other Quantum Cryptographic Protocols; Building Blocks of Quantum Communication Networks; Integration of Quantum Technologies Into Classical Optical Networks; Optical Sensing

  • zhang jun

    Jun Zhang

    Fluid Dynamics, Biomechanics and Biophysics, Self-Organizing Phenomena at Microscopic and Macroscopic Scales

Recent Publications by NYU Shanghai Faculty

 

Tim Byrnes

  • Bell correlations in a split two-mode-squeezed Bose-Einstein condensate, Jonas Kitzinger, Matteo Fadel, Valentin Ivannikov, Kae Nemoto, William J. Munro, Tim Byrnes, arXiv:2101.06190, Jan, 2021"
  • Deep recurrent networks predicting the gap evolution in adiabatic quantum computing, Naeimeh Mohseni, Carlos Navarrete-Benlloch, Tim Byrnes, Florian Marquardt. arXiv:2109.08492, Sep, 2021
  • Faraday imaging induced squeezing of a double-well Bose-Einstein condensate, Ebubechukwu O. Ilo-Okeke, Shinichi Sunami, Christopher J. Foot, Tim Byrnes, arxiv: 2104.02382, Apr, 2021"
  • Gaussian boson sampling with partial distinguishability, Junheng Shi, Tim Byrnes, arXiv:2105.09583, May, 2021
  • Majorana braiding gates for topological superconductors in a one dimensional geometry, Marek Narozniak, Matthieu Dartiailh, Jonathan, P. Dowling, Javad Shabani, Tim Byrnes, Phys. Rev. B, 103 205429, May, 2021
  • Quadratic Quantum Speedup for Perceptron Training , Pengcheng Liao, Barry C. Sanders, Tim Byrnes. arxiv: 2109.04695, Sep, 2021
  • Quantum nondemolition measurement based generation of entangled states in two Bose–Einstein condensates Juan E. Aristizabal-Zuluaga, Iuliia Skobleva, Lars Richter, Yangxu Ji, Yuping Mao, Manikandan Kondappan, Valentin Ivannikov, Tim Byrnes. J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys., 54 105502, May, 2021
  • Quantum technology applications of exciton-polariton condensates, Frederick Ira Moxley III, Ebubechukwu O. Ilo-Okeke, Saba Mudaliar, Tim Byrnes.Emergent Materials, 1-18, May, 2021
  • Continuous variable teleportation protocol for split-squeezed Bose Einstein condensates, Manish Chaudhary, Matteo Fadel, Valentin Ivannikov, Tim Byrnes, AIP Conference Proceedings 2241 020010, Jun, 2020
  • Experimental study of quantum coherence decomposition and trade-off relations in a tripartite system, Zhe Ding, Ran Liu, Chandrashekar Radhakrishnan, Wenchao Ma, Xinhua Peng, Ya Wang, Tim Byrnes, Fazhan Shi, Jiangfeng Du, arXiv:2011.08038, Nov, 2020
  • Remote quantum clock synchronization without synchronized clocks, Ebubechukwu O. Ilo-Okeke, Louis Tessler, Jonathan P. Dowling and Tim Byrnes, Nature Partner Journal Quantum Information 4, 40 (2018)
  • Generalized Grover's algorithm for multiple phase inversion states, Tim Byrnes, Gary Forster, Louis Tessler, Physical Review Letters 120, 060501 (2018)
  • Distribution of Quantum Coherence in Multipartite Systems, Chandrashekar Radhakrishnan, Manikandan Parthasarathy, Segar Jambulingam, Tim Byrnes, Physical Review Letters 116, 150504 (2016)

Hanghui Chen

  • A large modulation of electron-phonon coupling and an emergent superconducting dome in doped strong ferroelectrics, ​Jiaji Ma, Ruihan Yang and Hanghui Chen*, Nature Communications 12 2314 (2021).
  • Manipulating Berry curvature of SrRuO3 thin films via epitaxial strain, Di Tian, Zhiwei Liu, Shengchun Shen, Zhuolu Li, Yu Zhou, Hongquan Liu, Hanghui Chen*, Pu Yu, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 2021, 118 (18) e2101946118; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101946118
  • A substantial hybridization between correlated Ni-d orbital and itinerant electrons in infinite-layer nickelates, Yuhao Gu, Sichen Zhu, Xiaoxuan Wang, Jiangping Hu and Hanghui Chen*, Communications Physics 3 84 (2020).
  • Correlation-driven eightfold magnetic anisotropy in a two-dimensional magnetic oxide monolayer, Zhangzhang Cui, Alexander J. Grutter, Hua Zhou, Hui Cao,Yongqi Dong, Dustin A. Gilbert, Jingyuan Wang, Yi-Sheng Liu, Jiaji Ma, Zhenpeng Hu, Jinghua Guo, Jing Xia, Brian J. Kirby, Padraic Shafer, Elke Arenholz, Hanghui Chen*, Xiaofang Zhai*, Yalin Lu, Science Advances, 6 eaay0114, (2020).
  • Coupled magnetic and structural phase transitions in the antiferromagnetic polar metal Pb2CoOsO6 under pressure, ​Yuanyuan Jiao, Yue-Wen Fang, Jianping Sun, Pengfei Shan, Zhenhai Yu, Hai L. Feng, Bosen Wang, Hanming Ma, Yoshiya, Uwatoko, Kazunari Yamaura, Yanfeng Guo*, Hanghui Chen* and Jinguang Cheng*, Physical Review B 102 144418 (2020).
  • Design of a multifunctional polar metal via first-principles high-throughput structure screening, Yue-Wen Fang and Hanghui Chen*, Communications Materials 1 1 (2020).
  • Linear magnetoresistance with a universal energy scale in the strong-coupling superconductor Mo8Ga41 without quantum criticality, ​W. Zhang, Y. J. Hu, C. N. Kuo, S. T. Kuo, Yue-Wen Fang, Kwing To Lai, X. Y. Liu, K. Y. Yip, D. Sun, F. F. Balakirev, C. S. Lue, Hanghui Chen* and Swee K. Goh*, Physical Review B 102 241113(R) (2020).
  • E. Aulestia, Y. Cheung, Y-W. Fang, J. He, K. Yamaura, K. Lai, S. Goh and H. Chen, "Pressure-induced enhancedment of non-polar to polar transition temperature in metallic LiOsO3", Appl. Phys. Lett. 113, 012902 (2018)
  • H. Chen and A. Millis, "Charge transfer driven emergent phenomena in oxide heterostructures" (invited review), Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 29, 243001 (2017)
  • X. Chen, X. Zhang, M Koten, H. Chen, Z. Xiao, L. Zhang, J. Shield, P. Dowben, X. Hong, "Interfacial Charge Engineering in Ferroelectric-Controlled Mott transistors", Adv. Mater. 29, 1701385 (2017)
  • A. S. Disa, D. P. Kumah, A. Malashevich, H. Chen, D. A. Arena, E. D. Specht, S. Ismail-Beigi, F. J. Walker and C. H. Ahn, “Inter-elemental orbital tuning in oxides”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 026801 (2015)

Pilkyung Moon

  • "Gate tunable optical absorption and band structure of twisted bilayer graphene", K. Yu, N. V. Luan, T. Kim, J. Jeon, J. Kim, P. Moon*, Y. H. Lee*, E. J. Choi*, Phys. Rev. B (Rapid Communications) 99, 241405(R) (2019). (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.99.241405)
  • “Band Structure Engineering of 2D Materials using Patterned Dielectric Superlattices”, C. Forsythe, X. Zhou, T. Taniguchi, K. Watanabe, A. Pasupathy, P. Moon, M. Koshino, P. Kim, C. R. Dean, Nat. Nanotechnol. 13, 566 (2018). (doi: 10.1038/s41565-018-0138-7).
  • “Dirac Electrons in a Dodecagonal Graphene Quasicrystal”, S. J. Ahn*, P. Moon*, T.-H. Kim,* H.-W. Kim, H.-C. Shin, E. H. Kim, H. W. Cha, S.-J. Kahng, P. Kim, M. Koshino, Y.-W. Son, C.-W. Yang, J. R. Ahn, Science 361, 782 (2018). (doi: 10.1126/science.aar8412) (* These authors contributed equally to this work.)
  • Incommensurate double-walled carbon nanotubes as one-dimensional moiré crystals, Mikito Koshino,* Pilkyung Moon,* Young-Woo Son,* Physical Review B 91, 035405 (2015)

Bing Qi

  • Reem Mandil, Stephen DiAdamo, Bing Qi, Alireza Shabani, “Quantum key distribution in a packet-switched network”, npj Quantum Inf 9, 85 (2023)
  • Wang, Wenyuan, Rong Wang, Chengqiu Hu, Victor Zapatero, Li Qian, Bing Qi, Marcos Curty, and Hoi-Kwong Lo, “Fully Passive Quantum Key Distribution”, Physical Review Letters 130, 220801 (2023)
  • Brian J. Rollick, George Siopsis, and Bing Qi, “Dynamic attenuation scheme in measurement- device-independent quantum key distribution over turbulent channels”, Phys. Rev. A 106, 032405 (2022)
  • J.C. Chapman, J.M. Lukens, B. Qi, R.C. Pooser, and N.A. Peters, “Bayesian homodyne and heterodyne tomography”, Optics Express, 30(9), pp.15184-15200 (2022)
  • S. DiAdamo, B. Qi, G Miller, R Kompella, A Shabani, “Packet Switching in Quantum Networks: A Path to Quantum Internet”, Phys. Rev. Research 4, 043064 (2022)
  • Bing Qi, “Bennett-Brassard 1984 quantum key distribution using conjugate homodyne detection”, Phys. Rev. A 103, 012606 (2021)
  • Eleftherios Moschandreou, Brian J. Rollick, Bing Qi, and George Siopsis, “Experimental decoy- state Bennett-Brassard 1984 quantum key distribution through a turbulent channel”, Phys. Rev. A 103, 032614 (2021)
  • Y. Liu, D. Winder, B. Qi, C. Long and W. Lu, “Upgraded Fiber-Optic Sensor System for Dynamic Strain Measurement in Spallation Neutron Source,” IEEE Sensors Journal 21.23, 26772-26784 (2021)
  • Yun Liu, Bing Qi, Drew E Winder, “Faraday Michelson interferometers for signal demodulation of fiber-optic sensors”, Journal of Lightwave Technology 39 (8), 2552-2558 (2021)
  • Bing Qi, Pavel Lougovski, and Brian P. Williams, “Characterizing photon number statistics using conjugate optical homodyne detection”, Optics Express 28, 2276-2290 (2020)
  • Bing Qi, Hyrum Gunther, Philip G. Evans, Brian P. Williams, Ryan M. Camacho, and Nicholas A. Peters, “Experimental passive-state preparation for continuous-variable quantum communications”, Physical Review Applied 13 (5), 054065 (2020)
  • Hsuan-Hao Lu, Bing Qi, Brian P. Williams, Pavel Lougovski, Andrew M. Weiner, and Joseph M. Lukens, “Agile frequency transformations for dense wavelength-multiplexed communications”, Optics Express 28 (14), 20379-20390, (2020)
  • Joseph Lukens, Hsuan-Hao Lu, Bing Qi, Pavel Lougovski, Andrew Weiner, Brian P. Williams, “All- Optical Frequency Processor for Networking Applications”, Journal of Lightwave Technology 38 (7), 1678-1687 (2020)

Jun Zhang

  • Levy walks and path chaos in the dispersal of elongated structures moving across cellular vortical flows, Hu SY, Chu JJ, Shelley M, Zhang J., Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 074503 (2021)
  • Metallic microswimmers driven up the wall by gravity, Brosseau, Usabiaga, Lushi, Wu, Ristroph, Ward, Shelley and Zhang, Soft Matter. 17, 6597 (2021)
  • Streaming controlled by meniscus shape, Huang, Wolfe, Zhang and Zhong, J. Fluid Mech. 895, A1 (2020)
  • Zhang J. "Footprints of a flapping wing," Journal of Fluid Mechanics 818, 1-4 (2017)
  • Ristroph L, Liao J, and Zhang J. "Lateral Line Layout Correlates with the Differential Hydrodynamic Pressure on Swimming Fish," Phys. Rev. Lett.114, 018102 (2015)

Selected Faculty and Student Features

 

"Physicists Explain the Origin of Charge Order in Nickelate Superconductors" (Hanghui Chen)

 

"Controlling Heat with Heat: New Approach Proposed to Tame Thermal Convection" (Jun Zhang)

 

"Physics Institute Co-Sponsors Leading Quantum Information Conference" (Tim Byrnes)

 

"Institute Members Participate in Research Funded by NSFC Major Research Plan" (Jun Zhang)

 

"Building ‘Lego’ Blocks in Physics: New Mechanism Designed to Induce Topological States in Oxides" (Hanghui Chen)

 

"Ultrafast Polariton Switch Realized by Institute of Physics Members" (Tim Byrnes)

 

"NYU Shanghai Hosts International Forum of Fluid Physics" (Jun Zhang)

 

"Soft Ferromagnetism Found in Oxide Thin Films, NYU Shanghai Scientists Give Theoretical Explanation" (Hanghui Chen)

 

"NYU Shanghai Grants First Tenure Awards to Neuroscience, Physics Faculty Members" (Tim Byrnes)

 

"NYU Shanghai Researchers Find a Possible Way to Induce Superconductivity in Ferroelectrics" (Hanghui Chen)

 

"NYU Shanghai Scientists Develop a Method of Teleporting Quantum States Using Majorana Fermions" (Tim Byrnes, Marek Narozniak)

 

"HED: Research Discovers New Physical Properties in a Magnetic Oxide Monolayer" (Hanghui Chen)

 

"Fluid Dynamics Helps Researchers Uncover the Mysteries of Shooting Stars" (Jun Zhang)

 

"A New Way to Achieve the Entanglement between Two Bose-Einstein Condensates" (Tim Byrnes)

 

"NYU Shanghai Professor and Colleagues Create a New Type of Quasicrystal" (Pilkyung Moon)

 

"A Glimpse into a 'Two-Faced' Material" (Hanghui Chen)

 

"Professor Jun Zhang Elected APS Fellow, Cited for 'His Elegant and Artful Experiments" (Jun Zhang)

 

"Distinguished Young Scholar" (Tim Byrnes)

 

 

Structure of Program

Participating students complete the PhD degree requirements set by the NYU Department of Physics and in accordance with the academic policies of NYU GSAS. Each student develops an individualized course and research plan in consultation with the Director of Graduate Study at the NYU Department of Physics and the student’s NYU Shanghai faculty advisor. Most students will complete their PhD in 4-5 years. A typical sequence follows:

Summer 1
in Shanghai

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Begin program with funded research rotation, up to 3 months preceding first Fall semester, to familiarize with NYU Shanghai and faculty as well as lay a foundation for future doctoral study.

Year 1
(Fall and Spring)
in New York

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Complete PhD coursework at Department of Physics alongside other NYU PhD students.

Summer 2
in Shanghai

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Return to Shanghai for second funded research rotation to solidify relationships with NYU Shanghai faculty and make further progress in research.

Year 2 and Onward
in Shanghai

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Under supervision of NYU Shanghai faculty advisor, pursue dissertation research and continue coursework. Depending on each student’s individualized course of study, return visits to New York may also occur. Complete all required examinations and progress evaluations, both oral and written, leading up to submission and defense of doctoral thesis.

To learn more about the NYU Physics PhD program degree requirements, please visit this page.

 

Current Students

Name Research Areas
Roy Pace Quantum Information Technology
Hanzhou Tan Condensed Matter Physics, Low-dimensional Systems

Krzysztof Warmuz

Quantum Computing, Quantum Information, Quantum Cryptography
Kaixuan Zhou Quantum Information Technology, Quantum Computation

 

Alumni

Name Placement
Marek Narozniak Startup Founder
 

Application Process and Dates

Applications are to be submitted through the NYU GSAS Application portal, within which students should select the Physics PhD as their program of interest, and then indicate their preference for NYU Shanghai by marking the appropriate checkbox when prompted. Applicants will be evaluated by a joint admissions committee of New York and Shanghai faculty. Application requirements are set by the NYU Department of Physics and are the same as those for all NYU PhD applicants, no matter their campus preference; however, candidates are recommended to elaborate in their application and personal statements about their specific interests in the NYU Shanghai program and faculty.

For admission in Fall 2024, the application deadline is December 30, 2023.

 

 

Contact Us

Interested students are welcome to contact Vivien Du, PhD Program Manager, at shanghai.phd@nyu.edu with any inquiries or to request more information.