Group photo, 2023
Left to right:
Zumeng Huang, Seva Belosevich, Thomas Ding, Jian Tang, Zhe Sun, Mingyang Guo, Yifan Xie, Xuguo Zhou, Pablo Cuadros-Romero, Ben Kahl, Bo Zhang, Mohamed Shehabeldin, Qiong Ma
Principal investigator
Dr. Qiong Ma
Assistant Professor of Physics
B.S. in Physics, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)
Ph.D. in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Telephone: 617-552-1017
E-mail: maqa@bc.edu
Office: Higgins Hall 330D
Profile
Dr. Qiong Ma got her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). She then moved to MIT where she got her Ph.D. of physics under the supervision of Prof. Pablo Jarillo-Herrero and in close collaboration with Prof. Nuh Gedik.
Our group focuses on uncovering and understanding the fundamental physics of novel quantum materials, particularly about electron and phonon dynamics, low dimensionality, topology, and correlation. Our group applies advanced nano-/micro-sized device fabrications to control multiple degrees of freedom in quantum materials and combine low-temperature electronic transport and nonlinear, ultrafast, and near-field optoelectronic microscopies and spectroscopies to probe the physics.
Awards
2025 DOE Early Career Award
2025 Moore Inventor Fellowship
2025 CIFAR Fellow
2024 AFOSR Young Investigator Award
2024 ONR Young Investigator Award
2023 Sloan Fellowship
2023 ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award
2022 CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar
2022 IUPAP Early Career Scientist Award
2022 NSF Early Career Award
2018 Rising Starts Award in Physics
2016 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad
2010 Presidential Guo Moruo Scholarship from USTC
Postdoctoral Associates
Zumeng Huang
B.S. in Physics, Nankai University, China
Ph.D. in Physics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Email: huangzy@bc.edu
I study how topology, magnetism, and electronic correlations intertwine to produce unconventional electronic states in quantum materials. My work focuses on their quantum geometry—how concepts such as Berry curvature and related geometric quantities govern measurable responses in real devices. Experimentally, I combine transport (in particular the anomalous Hall effect) with optical probes including optical dichroism, photocurrent measurements, and ultrafast pump–probe techniques. By correlating these transport and optical signatures, I aim to uncover how they drive novel nonequilibrium phenomena.
Jian Tang
B.S. in Physics, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, China
Ph.D. in Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
E-mail: tanggv@bc.edu
My research focuses on the discovery and engineering of novel two-dimensional quantum materials and functional devices for next-generation electronics. My current work investigates topology, electronic correlations, and emergent phenomena in quantum spin Hall systems.
Zhiheng Huang
B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Ph.D. in Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Email: huanzhih@bc.edu
My research focuses on emergent quantum phenomena in low-dimensional materials, with an emphasis on topological phases and quantum geometry. I primarily use low-temperature transport measurements to investigate quantum anomalous Hall states and unconventional ferroelectricity in 2D heterostructures, exploring how symmetry, Berry curvature, and magnetic proximity shape electronic and spin textures. I also have experience with optical techniques, including photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy.
Graduate Students
Siyuan (Thomas) Ding
B.S. in Physics and B.S. in Math, Boston College
E-mail: dingsi@bc.edu
I am currently studying novel two-dimensional quantum materials. By employing a combination of transport, strain tuning, and optical techniques, I hope to study the interplay between band topology and correlated electron phenomena.
Mohamed Shehabeldin
B.S. in Physics, Zewail University of Science and Technology, Egypt
E-mail: shehabel@bc.edu
I study light-controlled tunneling and transport in 2D materials, supported by optical characterization techniques such as reflectance, photoluminescence, and magneto-circular dichroism spectroscopy. These approaches help me explore how light, symmetry, and quantum geometry shape electronic behavior in quantum materials. This understanding also opens pathways to new device concepts for sensing and on-chip information processing, including in-sensor computing.
Vsevolod (Seva) Belosevich
M.S. in Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia
E-mail: belosevi@bc.edu
Pablo Cuadros-Romero
B.S. in Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
E-mail: cuadrosr@bc.edu
Tianxing Tang
B.S. in Physics, Tianjin University, China
E-mail: tangtia@bc.edu
I am interested in wildlife photography.
Xuguo Zhou
B.S in Physics, University of California, Irvine
E-mail: zhouang@bc.edu
I am a third-year PhD student whose research centers on the experimental investigation of topological phase transitions. The work employs Scanning Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy to map and quantify the breaking of inversion symmetry during these transitions. The SHG technique is uniquely sensitive to this symmetry breaking and provides crucial information about the material’s point group. This work is essential for correlating crystal symmetry changes with emergent physical properties, thereby accelerating the development of next-generation quantum devices.
Mingyang Guo
B.S. in Physics, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)
E-mail: guomin@bc.edu
My research focuses on emergent properties and strongly correlated phenomena in two-dimensional quantum systems. I apply advanced transport and optical characterization techniques to investigate quantum geometry and topology. My technical background also includes the fabrication of two-dimensional micro-nano devices.
Katie Canavan
B.A. in Physics and Mathematics, Vassar College
E-mail: canava@bc.edu
Undergraduate Students
Justin Khim
Javier Aleman
Braden Johnsen
Former group members
| Name | Position in the Lab | Subsequent Position |
|---|---|---|
| Zihan Wang | Visiting Undergraduate | Graduate, Rice University |
| Zhihao Yang | Undergraduate | M.S., Columbia University |
| Eli Harris | Graduate | Graduate, BC |
| Navar Recinos | Undergraduate | |
| Paul Fessatidis | Undergraduate | |
| Ryan Wilson | Undergraduate | Undergraduate, BC |
| Joe Ciampa | Undergraduate | Undergraduate, BC |
| Kevin Qi | Undergraduate | |
| Tianrui (Terry) Wang | Undergraduate | Undergraduate, Cornell University |
| Ben Kahl | Undergraduate | |
| Yifan Xie | Visiting Undergraduate | Graduate, UC Berkeley |
| Stephen Colleran | Undergraduate | Graduate, North Carolina State University |
| Zhe Sun | Postdoc | |
| Jingdi (James) Tang | Visiting Undergraduate | Graduate, Yale University |
| Bo Zhang | Undergraduate | |
| Connor Moquin | Undergraduate | Undergraduate, BC |
| Zhiren (Issac) Zheng | Visiting Graduate Student from MIT | Postdoc, Stanford |