Skip Navigation
Search

Discovery Prize 2025 Finalists

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Cano, PhD

Jennifer Cano, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

“Theoretical Framework for the Discovery of Topological Moiré Materials”

Cano studies the emergent properties of quantum materials; specifically, topological phases of matter. Her research focuses on fundamental principles such as classification, and she also predicts new material platforms to realize exotic quantum phases. Cano developed the theory of topological quantum chemistry, which combines group theory, topology and chemistry, to predict new topological materials. She earned her PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2015. She subsequently was a postdoctoral fellow at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science. Cano, who came to Stony Brook in 2018 as an assistant professor, holds a visiting scholar appointment at the Flatiron Institute.

 
Paolo Celli, PhD

Paolo Celli, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

“Load-Bearing Enviro-Morphing Structures”

Celli’s expertise is in solid and structural mechanics, structural dynamics and wave physics. His group leverages precision desktop experiments, in-house fabrication, numerical simulations and simple theoretical derivations to devise and understand the mechanics of structural systems characterized by unprecedented functionalities capable of adapting to the environment around them. His research focuses on shape-morphing structures, dynamic structures with time-evolving properties, structures for civil engineering robotics and structures for renewable energy. Celli joined SBU in January 2020. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Università Politecnica delle Marche and Politecnico di Torino, respectively, and earned his PhD in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2017.

 

Yifan Zhou, PhD

Yifan Zhou, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 “Revolutionizing Power Grid Computing Through Quantum-Driven Analytics”

Working at the intersection of power systems, quantum computing and machine learning, Zhou and her students are developing intelligent, adaptive and ultrascalable power system operations to advance the transition toward a provably resilient energy sector. She is particularly interested in designing use-inspired artificial intelligence and quantum solutions to support real-time analysis and decision-making for ultrascale power systems with massive distributed resources. Prior to her appointment to her current position in 2022, Zhou was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She received her PhD in 2019 and her bachelor’s degree with the highest distinction in 2014, both from Tsinghua University.