Two distinguished scholars from The School of Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) – Dr. Adrian Po Hoi-Chun, Hari Harilela Assistant Professor of Physics, and Dr. Wang Lan, Assistant Professor from the Division of Life Science, were recently awarded the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards 2023 for their outstanding scientific research achievements.
Dr. Adrian Po Hoi-Chun is a theoretical condensed matter physicist who is broadly interested in the collective phenomena that arise when a large number of quantum particles interact, along with the intriguing interplay between symmetry, topology, and locality in quantum materials. He works across the multiple areas of strongly correlated electrons, magnetism and superconductivity, the fundamentals of band theory, topological materials discovery, 2D and moiré materials, and the relationship between quantum dynamics and quantum information theory. A major focus of his recent research work is the development of methods for describing and comprehending the physics of highly entangled quantum many-body states that are pertinent to quantum materials. (Click here for Dr. Po’s profile)
Dr. Wang Lan is a biologist who is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that determine the health of the mitochondria, an organelle that provides biochemical energy to cellular processes. Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies many human diseases. Dr. Wang is also interested in discovering new mechanisms that regulate protein translation and how pathogens could take advantage of these mechanisms to manipulate the host cell for their own advantage. (Click here for Dr. Wang’s profile)
