Distinguished Chair Professor Dr. Nai-Shang Yeh elected Academician at Academia Sinica
Dr. Nai-Shang Yeh, a Distinguished Chair Professor in NTNU’s Department of Physics at the College of Science, was elected an Academician of the Academia Sinica on July 4. Specializing in condensed matter physics, Dr. Yeh received this prestigious lifelong honorary title, the highest academic honor in Taiwan. She attributes her success to teamwork and looks forward to further contributions in quantum materials and nanotechnology.
Born in Chiayi in 1961, Dr. Yeh earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at 25. She then spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher at IBM before securing assistant professor positions at Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). At 33, she became the youngest female professor to receive tenure at Caltech.
Recognized as one of the most promising young female scientists in the United States, Dr. Yeh has been featured in Time magazine. She has long resided in the U.S., conducting research in quantum materials, topological materials, low-dimensional materials, and nanotechnology, achieving significant international recognition.
Expanding beyond theoretical physics, Dr. Yeh has engaged in applied research, collaborating with the industrial sector to ensure practical societal applications of her findings. She often cites graphene, which can be used in batteries, optoelectronics, and semiconductors, as an example of research with practical benefits.
Dr. Yeh emphasizes that research should be enjoyable, and she relishes the challenges and accomplishments of her work. She finds it particularly fascinating that research outcomes often exceed initial hypotheses, allowing for greater learning.
Currently, Dr. Yeh aims to apply her research to global challenges such as climate change and environmental pollution using quantum materials and nanotechnology.
Dr. Yeh's affiliation with NTNU began in 2022 as a Yushan Scholar, though her connection with the university started earlier through introductions by Prof. Hsiang-Lin Liu. Collaborating with NTNU professors Yen-Wen Lan and Ting-Hua Lu, she has engaged in research on topics such as heterostructure interface magneto-optics, microwave measurement techniques, and two-dimensional materials.
Prof. Ting-Hua Lu, specializing in the physical properties and measurement analysis of angular momentum light sources, has found her expertise complementary to Dr. Yeh's focus on two-dimensional materials. Their research ideas align well, particularly as both are female physicists.
Dr. Yeh spends at least three months annually in Taiwan. In July 2022, she taught an intensive two-week course on 'Introduction to Nanoscience and Technology' at NTNU, which included students from both NTNU and National Taiwan University (NTU). When not in Taiwan, she collaborates online with Taiwanese professors and interacts with students.
Physics master's student Pan Ching-Yang has remarked on the profound academic depth of Dr. Yeh's courses, likening them to scholarly seminars, and appreciates her willingness to discuss any physics topic with patience and clarity. Another student, Tsai Hsi-Chen, highlighted the new experience of using various instruments and methods to test and apply material systems under Dr. Yeh's guidance, which ignited his passion for scientific research.
Dr. Yeh continues her close collaboration with Profs. Lu and Lan at NTNU's College of Science. Her unique research equipment at Caltech, integrated with Prof. Lu's optical functionalities, enables extended experimental capabilities for joint research projects, benefiting both institutions. Prof. Lan's expertise in device fabrication is also instrumental in their collaborative development and testing of novel two-dimensional material devices.
This semester, in response to requests from several NTU students, Dr. Yeh will teach an intensive course on 'Applications of Group Theory in Condensed Matter Physics' at NTNU from September 9 to October 8. The course will consist of four classes per week, each lasting two hours, and is open to graduate students from NTNU, NTU, and National Chengchi University (NCCU). It aims to highlight the importance of group theory in quantum field theory and condensed matter physics.
Reflecting on her recent election as an Academician, Dr. Yeh acknowledges it as a collective achievement, expressing gratitude to the five Academicians who recommended her, those who prepared her nomination materials, and all who voted for her. She also thanks her parents, family, students, and academic partners for their support and collaboration.