The Miller Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, has awarded Dr. Wencai Liu, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at Texas A&M University, the Visiting Miller Professorship. He is one of only 12 scientists honored with the prize, which was established to nurture diverse postdoctoral research among promising scientists.
The Visiting Miller Professorship is a prestigious program that invites faculty from around the world to partake in research at the University of California, Berkeley, which fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Beginning in September, Liu and the other scientists will have the opportunity to work and research together.
Liu joined the Texas A&M Department of Mathematics faculty in 2019 after earning his Ph.D. in 2015 from Fudan University in China and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Irvine, under the mentorship of Dr. Svetlana Jitomirskaya. He is internationally respected for his expertise in mathematical physics and substantial contributions to the study of quasi-periodic and periodic Schrödinger operators.
Schrödinger operators are mathematical tools used in quantum mechanics to describe how particles, like electrons, behave in different environments. By studying these operators, researchers can better understand how electrons behave in different types of materials, which can help in developing new technologies like advanced electronics or energy-efficient materials.
Liu is eager to build on his expertise during his time in Berkeley. “I look forward to immersing myself in Berkeley’s vibrant and dynamic research community,” Liu said. “The prospect of collaborating with leading experts like Nikhil Srivastava, Ruixiang Zhang and Maciej Zworski is something I am excited about.” Joining him on this academic journey will be his mentor, Dr. Svetlana Jitomirskaya, with whom he has already forged a productive research partnership. Together, they plan to delve deeper into the spectral theory of quasi-periodic Schrödinger operators, further solidifying the bridge between mathematical theory and physical phenomena.
Liu’s research at Texas A&M is focused primarily on the dynamics of linear and nonlinear Schrödinger equations, which are fundamental to quantum mechanics and have significantly contributed to our understanding of various phenomena in solid-state physics and condensed matter physics, among other avenues with multidisciplinary impact and application. Such equations and related breakthroughs hold the potential to revolutionize areas from quantum computing and quantum communication to the development of new semiconductor materials.
Liu’s distinguished record highlighted by the 2024 International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Early Career Scientist Prize, his speaking engagement at the 2021 International Congress of Mathematical Physics, and his recent selection for a Simons Foundation fellowship position him as a leading voice in his field. His forthcoming work as part of the professorship team this fall may deepen our understanding of quantum systems and inspire interdisciplinary collaborations that extend the impact of mathematical research across the sciences.