Scholarship: Fully-funded
Degree: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D
Nationality: International Students
Location: USA
Application deadlines: Open
Scholarship Description:
Dr. Zhou Yan graduated from Peking University in 2007 and earned his PhD at MIT in 2014 under the renowned molecular spectroscopist Robert W. Field, where he successfully applied Chirped Pulse millimeter-wave technology to precise spectral studies of highly excited molecules. From 2014 to 2019, he conducted postdoctoral research at JILA, working with Nobel laureate Eric A. Cornell and physicist Jun Ye, focusing on high-precision measurements of molecular ions. As a core team member, he contributed to the most precise international experiments on the electron electric dipole moment (eEDM).
In 2020, Dr. Zhou joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as an assistant professor and will be promoted to tenure-track associate professor in July 2025.
Dr. Zhou’s lab is dedicated to the principled development of high-precision quantum detectors based on diatomic molecules, studying molecular ions (e.g., TaO⁺) and neutral radioactive molecules (e.g., RaF). Core technologies include Quantum Logic Spectroscopy, Optical Frequency Comb, and Rydberg Stark Decelerators. As a member of the Nevada Center for Astrophysics (NCfA), Dr. Zhou promotes the application of cutting-edge laboratory technologies to interdisciplinary fields like astrophysics and astrochemistry.
The lab is equipped with advanced facilities, including two TOPTICA optical frequency comb systems, a dilution refrigerator with a minimum temperature of 8 mK, and a high-resolution direct-write photolithography system. Research projects are supported by major funding agencies such as NSF, NASA, DOD, and DOE, and the lab has established long-term collaborations and student exchange programs with top research institutions, including MIT, Caltech, and NIST.
Available Subjects:
- Explore new physics beyond the Standard Model by probing P,T-symmetry breaking using molecular ions.
- A new approach for investigation of high-resolution ion-neutral collisions.
Eligibility criteria:
- Candidates should have backgrounds in fields such as Atomic Physics, Chemical Physics, Physical Chemistry, or Electrical Engineering. Strong practical skills are essential, along with an interest or proficiency in programming and numerical simulations.
- PhD start date is September 2025, and a full scholarship is provided.
Application Procedure:
Please send your application to [email protected], including the following documents:
- CV
- Transcripts
