Alumni News

Aaron Young (PhDPhys’24) wins Theodore Hänsch Prize from Optica

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:51:45 +0000

Aaron Young (PhDPhys’24) wins Theodore Hänsch Prize from Optica Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 10/12/2026 - 12:51

��ñ�� alumnus Aaron Young (PhDPhys’24) is the 2026 recipient of Optica’s Theodore Hänsch Prize in quantum optics.

The prestigious prize is awarded to early-career scientists for pioneering research on quantum technologies with goals of advancing basic research with meaningful global impact and transitioning ideas into commercial ventures.

Young was selected “for his work with ultrafast and high-resolution spatial light modulation for cold atoms,” according to Optica.

Named in honor of Nobel Laureate and Optica Honorary Member Theodor W. Hänsch, the prize is funded by Hamamatsu Photonics, MenloSystems, and Thorlabs. Young is the second ��ñ�� alum to receive the award, following Raghavendra Srinivas (PhDPhys’20) who was selected in 2024.

Young completed his PhD in physics in 2024 under the mentorship of Professor and JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman, and he is now a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University.

��ñ�� alumnus Aaron Young (PhDPhys’24) is the 2026 recipient of Optica’s Theodore Hänsch Prize in quantum optics, a prestigious prize awarded to early-career scientists for pioneering research on quantum technologies.

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Recent grad heads to Washington to help shape quantum policy

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:16:18 +0000

Recent grad heads to Washington to help shape quantum policy Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 08/05/2026 - 14:16

Kirsten Apodaca

Joey Pontiff (Phys’26) is taking his physics and political science education to the nation’s capital this summer, working for the Commission on Quantum Primacy — a national initiative focused on supporting U.S. leadership in quantum technologies. The position is hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) and places Pontiff at the intersection of science, industry and policy. Right where he wants to be.

Led by Senators Todd Young and Ben Ray Luján, who co-chair the commission, the group brings together influential figures in the quantum realm, including leaders from national laboratories, large technology companies and quantum startups.

It's exciting to see how industry, academia and government all have to work together," says Pontiff. "For quantum to succeed, you need all three."

Pontiff started this summer as an intern but soon after was offered a full-time role as Associate Director of Future Technology Platforms with a focus on quantum, AI for science, talent and workforce.

In this role, Pontiff uses his technical background to provide insights and translate technical needs into policy recommendations for the commission. He also helps develop recommendations on building an ecosystem of quantum talent and on innovative applications of quantum technology.

"It's exciting to see how industry, academia and government all have to work together," says Pontiff. "For quantum to succeed, you need all three."

A Quantum Scholars connection

Pontiff initially landed the internship from a connection made with SCSP through Quantum Scholars, a ��ñ�� program that encourages undergraduates to learn more about quantum science and the growing quantum industry.

He first met Ryan Carpenter, special advisor for SCSP, when Carpenter spoke to the scholars last year. Pontiff continued building on that relationship by attending the AI+ Expo supported by SCSP and staying connected afterward.

Earlier this spring, Pontiff was considering taking a gap year after graduation, but he reached out to Carpenter for advice about the science policy world.

Having completed a political science minor alongside his physics degree, Pontiff says he has always been fascinated by policy. Public service also runs in his family. His great-great-grandfather served in the U.S. Senate and several other relatives have led careers in government.

As quantum technologies continue to advance, Pontiff sees an increasing need for scientists who can bridge the gap between technical expertise and public policy.

Soon after interviewing with SCSP, he got the internship offer and quickly made plans to start the summer in Washington, D.C.

Being engaged

One piece of advice Pontiff emphasizes is being engaged in whatever you do.

“I’ve had some of the best experiences and made many wonderful friends from the times I have been most engaged,” he says.

Initially, he joined Quantum Scholars because he wanted to meet other students and learn more about the field, but Pontiff became a key leader of the program, serving as chair of the student-led executive board over the past year.

Pontiff was a key force behind the program launching social meetings in addition to the regular programming. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Alice and Bob mentoring program and helped organize the Physics and Quantum Research Expo.

“Quantum Scholars has been such a gratifying experience in my college career,” he says. “I’ve built so many connections that I will carry with me.”

Building community in the great outdoors

One of Pontiff’s big takeaways from college has been the importance of building community, and for him, that extended beyond the classroom.

After a difficult start to his college career at the University of Washington, Pontiff transferred to ��ñ�� and got involved in many communities across campus. He joined several recreation clubs but soon realized he wanted to meet more people interested in adventure sports. Together with fellow student and former Quantum Scholar Tyler Kivelson, they founded the Big Mountain Club, bringing together adventure-seekers who support each other on achieving their next big goal.

What began as a small group of outdoor enthusiasts has grown into a thriving community of over 200 members connected through GroupMe. The club connects backcountry skiers, climbers, trail runners, mountain bikers, whitewater rafters and other athletes looking to challenge themselves and support each other.

“We wanted to form a community of like-minded people who wanted to push themselves and find their limits,” says Pontiff.

A life-changing fall

One of the most transformative experiences during Pontiff’s college career came very unexpectedly.

In the summer of 2024, just before the fall semester was set to begin, he suffered a traumatic brain injury during a rock-climbing accident in Clear Creek Canyon. He remembers the feeling of falling and then waking up to a team of EMTs rushing him into an ambulance. The fall fractured several vertebrae and resulted in a subdural hematoma.

His recovery was long and difficult. Pontiff spent weeks sleeping up to 18 hours a day and struggled with vision problems that required special tinted glasses and several hours of eye therapy every day.

Despite the challenge, he decided to stay enrolled instead of stepping away from school. “When something like that happens, it gives you massive clarity on what truly matters in life,” he says.

With the help of meditation and craniosacral therapy, Pontiff continued his studies while recovering.

Earlier this summer, he returned to outdoor climbing and summitted the Second Flatiron in Boulder, marking his first climb since the accident.

“You don’t know how much you enjoy things until you go without them,” says Pontiff. “And you don’t know what you’re capable of until you’ve crawled out of the depths. But I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.”

Chasing the wind and turning into the storm

Looking ahead, Pontiff isn’t certain where his career will take him. Instead of mapping the future out, he’s learning as much as he can, exploring, and listening to what the world tells him. Or as he puts it, “chasing the wind,” a nod to one of his favorite books, The Name of the Wind.

No matter what lies ahead, his personal philosophy is to face challenges head on.

“When a storm is coming, bison don’t run away from it,” he says. “They turn directly into the storm because they know it’s the fastest way through.”

For students facing challenges, his advice is simple: “If there’s an obstacle in front of you, don’t run from it. Turn into it. Really engage with it. That’s the fastest way to get through it and that’s how you learn the most.”

Joey Pontiff with his family at graduation in front of the Duane Physics building.

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In Memoriam: Stephen Halley White (Phys’63)

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:13:53 +0000

In Memoriam: Stephen Halley White (Phys’63) Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 07/08/2026 - 14:13

Stephen Halley White, a ��ñ�� alumnus and pioneering biophysicist, passed away on May 31, 2026.

White earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from ��ñ�� in 1963. As an undergraduate, he held several pivotal research positions: working in Professor Walter Tantilla’s lab as an NMR electronics technician, helping Professor Donald Burckhardt develop a speech-synthesizing system, and studying the development of a liquid-state laser with Professor Seth Mizushima.

He went on to earn both his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Washington. After serving as an Army captain, White completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia.

In 1972, White joined the faculty at the University of California Irvine as a founding member of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. He led a research program in membrane biophysics, connecting physical chemistry and biophysics with molecular cell biology.

Throughout his career, White made significant contributions to the Biophysical Society through numerous leadership roles, including service as president from 1996 to 1997. He received the society’s Distinguished Service Award in 1999 and was named a fellow in 2002.

In 2013, White and his wife Jackie Dooley established an award at ��ñ�� to recognize exceptional undergraduate physics research projects—a tribute to the research experiences that had such a profound impact on him as a student. The Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Award is presented annually to two students and is one of the highest honors for physics and engineering physics undergraduates.

“Steve approached me when I was chair to establish this award because he felt his undergraduate research at CU played a foundational role in his distinguished career,” says Paul Beale, professor and former chair of physics. “He and Jackie were always impressed by the outstanding students who received the Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Award. I will miss my dear friend.”

View UC Irvine's memoriam for Stephen Halley White

Recent Stephen Halley White Award Recipients

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Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) receives Deborah Jin thesis award

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:58:01 +0000

Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) receives Deborah Jin thesis award Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 06/11/2026 - 06:58

Kirsten Apodaca

Physics alumnus Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) is the recipient of this year’s Deborah Jin Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research, a national honor awarded by the Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP) of the American Physical Society. Aeppli received the award at the annual DAMOP meeting held June 1-5, 2026, in Providence, Rhode Island.

The Deborah Jin Award recognizes outstanding doctoral-level research in the areas of atomic, molecular or optical physics. Originally established in 1992, it was endowed and renamed in 2016 in honor of the late Deborah Jin, former JILA fellow and adjoint professor of physics at the ��ñ��, for her outstanding contributions to the field.

Aeppli was selected “for pioneering work that pushes the frontier of coherence times and measurement precision in optical lattice clocks,” according to the award citation.

“It’s a wonderful honor to receive this award in recognition of my PhD,” said Aeppli. “I have looked up to many of the past thesis prize winners, so joining their ranks is indeed humbling.”

Aeppli completed his doctoral research with Professor and JILA Fellow Jun Ye, whom he credits for providing “consistent guidance and support.” While this is nominally an individual award, Aeppli said it represents a collective effort.

“I would not have received this award if I did not have the support of this excellent department, the wealth of knowledge and community at JILA, and many brilliant mentors and peers,” he said.

Now working as a quantum engineer at Atom Computing, Aeppli is building quantum computers using many of the same techniques he learned during his PhD.

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Hanqing Zhao (PhDPhys’25) awarded prestigious Glenn H. Brown Prize

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 27 May 2026 21:20:22 +0000

Hanqing Zhao (PhDPhys’25) awarded prestigious Glenn H. Brown Prize Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 05/27/2026 - 15:20

Kirsten Apodaca

Ivan Smalyukh and Hanqing Zhao

Recent PhD graduate Hanqing Zhao was awarded the prestigious 2025 Glenn H. Brown Prize from the International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS). The award is presented to recent doctoral graduates whose theses demonstrate an “outstanding contribution to the science of liquid crystals.” Zhao will be recognized for the award at the upcoming International Liquid Crystal Conference in June 2026.

Zhao, who is now a postdoctoral associate at the International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter at Hiroshima University, completed his PhD at ��ñ�� in 2025 under the mentorship of Ivan Smalyukh, professor of physics and RASEI fellow.

Zhao’s research focused on creating and observing particle-like structures known as topological solitons and time crystals in liquid crystal systems. With external force, these structures can organize into ordered states, forming not only spatial crystals, but also “crystals in time,” known as time crystals, explains Zhao.

Among many contributions, Zhao was lead author on a highly publicized paper in Nature Materials last fall, which described the creation of a time crystal visible to humans. This work was featured by ��ñ�� Today.

“I would like to thank my advisor, whose guidance made it possible for me to carry out this exciting work during my PhD,” says Zhao. “Receiving this award is a wonderful encouragement and a very meaningful start to my research career. It also motivates me to continue contributing to the liquid crystal community in the future.”

Zhao is the third graduate from the Smalyukh Group to receive the prize, joining Benny Tai (2022) and Angel Martinez (2016).

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Distinguished alumnus John Richardson (Phys'42) passes away at 104

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:08:31 +0000

Distinguished alumnus John Richardson (Phys'42) passes away at 104 Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 04/06/2026 - 11:08

Kirsten Apodaca

John M. Richardson (Phys’42), distinguished alumnus from the ��ñ��, passed away on January 18, 2026, at the age of 104.

Richardson was a 2002 recipient of the George Norlin Award, the highest honor conferred by the university’s alumni association, in recognition of his distinguished career in telecommunications, information technology and related fields. The George Norlin Award recognizes outstanding alumni who have demonstrated a long-lasting commitment to excellence in their professional career and a devotion to the betterment of society and their communities.

Richardson earned his bachelor of arts degree in physics at ��ñ�� in 1942. Following his undergraduate studies, he enrolled in the physics PhD program at Harvard University. While at Harvard, he interrupted his studies to serve in the Navy during World War II, then returned to complete his PhD in physics in 1951.

He began his professional career back in Boulder, as the deputy director for radio standards at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) where he supervised the development of the first atomic clock and the transition to the international atomic time standard. In 1964, he was awarded a gold medal for service from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Richardson later held a series of leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., contributing to high-profile efforts including national security telecommunications, international audio broadcasting, supercomputer performance and electronic email.

In 1991, Richardson joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, University College, where he taught courses in telecommunication policy and the foundations of information technology. In 1996, he became Chair of the Department of Information and Telecommunications Studies. In 2002, Richardson won the President’s award for distinguished service at the University of Maryland.

In recognition of his professional and scientific contributions, Richardson was elected a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the American Physical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"John had a keen intellect, loved science and engineering, and highly valued his education at CU,” said John Cumalat, professor of physics and former chair of the physics department.

In 2002, Richardson retired and moved back to Boulder, but he was very active during retirement. Cumalat recalled having lunch with him at Chatauqua several years ago. Richardson was 100 at the time and had driven himself to the restaurant.

“He kept up with department events, attended George Gamow dinners and public lectures, and was a long-time loyal donor to the university and department,” added Cumalat. “He was a remarkable individual.”

View Richardson's Obituary

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Mark Saffman (PhDPhys'94) awarded 2026 APS Ramsey Prize

Kirsten Apodaca — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:31:50 +0000

Mark Saffman (PhDPhys'94) awarded 2026 APS Ramsey Prize Kirsten Apodaca Fri, 11/07/2025 - 09:31

��ñ�� alum Mark Saffman (PhDPhys'94) has been awarded the American Physical Society's 2026 Norman F. Ramsey Prize in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, and in Precision Tests of Fundamental Laws and Symmetries. Saffman is the Johannes Rydberg Professor of Physics and director of the Wisconsin Quantum Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Josephine Meyer (PhDPhys’25) awarded 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:19:28 +0000

Josephine Meyer (PhDPhys’25) awarded 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 10/09/2025 - 11:19

Josie Meyer

Kirsten Apodaca

Josie Meyer

Recent graduate Josephine Meyer (PhDPhys’25) has been named a recipient of the prestigious Boeing Quantum Creators Prize. The national award recognizes early-career researchers who have pushed the field of quantum information science and engineering in new directions.

According to the list of prior recipients, Meyer is the first to receive the award specifically for quantum education and ethics research.

Meyer’s research focuses on the teaching and learning of quantum computing and quantum information science. Her underlying goal is to ensure the coming generation of quantum researchers receive the education they need to succeed both professionally and personally.

Meyer is also an internationally recognized advocate for the responsible development of quantum technologies. She promotes holistic approaches to education that prepare students not only to design, but to think critically, about the technologies they’re developing.

“Receiving this award is a powerful acknowledgement that the work I’m doing in quantum education and ethics is just as important – and just as much “quantum” – as the people building quantum devices or developing algorithms,” said Meyer.

Bethany Wilcox, associate professor of physics and Meyer’s research advisor, described Meyer’s impact on developing the field of quantum information science (QIS) education. “Josie’s early work was critical to establishing quantum information science education research as a solid and impactful educational research tradition,” said Wilcox.

Image Credit: Chicago Quantum Exchange

When the field was emerging, research was scattered across many disciplinary journals with little collaboration. To address this, Meyer routinely published outside her home discipline of physics education research and became an “instrumental leader in forging a dedicated international QIS education research community,” according to Wilcox.

Although her postdoctoral fellowship was cancelled due to a National Science Foundation grant termination, Meyer is making strides – continuing to publish research and receiving broad recognition for her work. Working closely with her professional network and collaborators at George Mason University, Meyer says this year might be her most productive yet in terms of scholarly work.

The Boeing Quantum Creators Prize carries a monetary honorarium, and Meyer will be recognized along with this year’s recipients at the annual Chicago Quantum Summit, taking place Nov. 3-4.

Recent graduate Josephine Meyer has been named a recipient of the prestigious Boeing Quantum Creators Prize. The national award recognizes early-career researchers who have pushed the field of quantum information science and engineering in new directions.

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Chuankun Zhang (PhDPhys'25) wins 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:15:06 +0000

Chuankun Zhang (PhDPhys'25) wins 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 09/25/2025 - 13:15

Chuankun Zhang (PhDPhys'25) has been named a recipient of the 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize. This national honor recognizes early-career researchers whose work is propelling quantum science and engineering in bold new directions.

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From Quantum Physics to Quantitative Finance

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:09:24 +0000

From Quantum Physics to Quantitative Finance Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 09/22/2025 - 10:09

Kirsten Apodaca

To alumnus Gal Weitz (EngrPhys, ApMath’22), Boulder was a “dream destination” for undergrad. Now working in quantitative finance, Weitz shares how his education at ��ñ�� set him up for success in the finance world.

Finding his path

After spending several years in the military, Weitz had to decide what to study. “I remembered that the only two subjects I truly enjoyed in high school were physics and math. That was my sign,” he said.

An avid cyclist who competed for the Israel National Cycling Team, Boulder provided the perfect setting for Weitz to complete his undergraduate studies –– a “world-class” physics department and a bike-friendly environment.

Weitz was at CU during the COVID pandemic, which disrupted the traditional college experience with a sudden shift to virtual learning. For many students it was a difficult transition.

“I felt so lucky to be a physics student,” Weitz said. “Our professors were so dedicated –– hand-writing perfect notes on iPads during lectures instead of using pre-written PDFs or PowerPoints. It felt just like a normal lecture with a good old blackboard, minus the breaks to mop the boards which were so satisfying to watch.”

Discovering research

At CU, Weitz explored several research areas before landing on quantum computing.

He conducted research in condensed matter physics with Professor Dan Dessau where he worked on experimental hardware for superconducting materials. He then shifted to experimental quantum information with the Kaufman Group before settling into a focus on quantum computing with Professor Joshua Combes.

In the Combes group, Weitz developed a novel probabilistic algorithm which achieved superior performance over conventional benchmarking techniques in quantum optimization algorithms.

Weitz earned summa cum laude for his undergraduate honors thesis titled “A Classical Performance Benchmarking Scheme for the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm.”

His work from that research group was recently published in Physical Review A, with Weitz as first author.

Pivoting to finance

Until late in his junior year, Weitz was set on pursuing a PhD in physics. That is until he discovered “the dark side” of quantitative finance.

“Like many math and physics majors, I was drawn to solving hard quantitative problems,” said Weitz. But at that point it was too late in the recruiting cycle to land a full-time role after graduation.

Weitz pivoted. After graduating in 2022, he worked as an NLP Software Engineer at Magnifi, a tech company in Boulder, while applying to graduate schools.

He went on to complete a master’s degree in financial engineering at Baruch College. He completed an internship at AQR Capital Management, a global investment management firm, where he now works as a Portfolio Implementation and Research Analyst.

A day-to-day in quantitative finance

Weitz says he spends about 50% of his time on portfolio management, 45% on coding, and 5% in meetings.

“On the portfolio management side, I help rebalance portfolios through a quantitative optimization process — aligning them with our signals, risk models, and constraints — and send the trades to the execution team. On the coding side, I work on projects to improve our systems or implement new capabilities that help us analyze how portfolios and signals behave in real-world conditions. This often involves applying math and economics concepts to develop analytical tools. I also collaborate closely with researchers to implement new strategies and with software engineers to integrate our code into production systems.”

Advice for aspiring quants

For anyone looking to get into quantitative finance, Weitz recommends taking electives in applied math and statistics. He adds, “concepts from Markov Chains, Applied Regression, and Mathematical Statistics show up constantly in interviews and on the job.”

Weitz says the interview process usually involves multiple rounds starting with coding and brainteasers.

“Start practicing on LeetCode as early as freshman year, buy the “green book” and learn it inside and out, take the introductory C++ courses offered at CU, and avoid relying on ChatGPT right away. Try to solve problems yourself first, then use it to check and learn from your mistakes.”

Weitz adds having a few technical projects you can discuss in detail, and a computationally focused internship or research experience as a strong resume booster.

Biggest life lesson & final advice

Weitz said “it’s natural to focus on what’s next — the next role, the next milestone — but it’s just as important to pause and appreciate where you are now and what you’ve accomplished. Your past efforts built the person you are today. And above all, make time for family and friends.”

When asked about advice for current or future students, he emphasized that difficult things will inevitably come. “Develop a tendency to embrace them and push through them,” he said. “Like my old unit’s motto, ‘who dares wins’ – dare yourself to take on challenges, and you’ll develop a lifelong winner’s mindset.”

To students at CU, Weitz says “you are in a great place. I would go back in time to sit in your seats in a heartbeat. Sko Buffs!”

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