Mei-Yin Chou

• Computational materials physics
• Theoretical condensed matter physics
• Electronic and structural properties of solids, surfaces, interfaces, and clusters

Mei-Yin Chou’s research focuses on the electronic structure of condensed matter, as it plays a decisive role in the properties and dynamics of quantum materials. For most systems we employ first-principles calculations that do not rely on any adjustable parameters. This has been made possible by advances in computational methods developed in recent decades. The purpose of these studies is to provide unambiguous explanations for various interesting phenomena observed experimentally in nanostructures, solids, and surfaces, and to make reliable predictions of new material properties from microscopic quantum theories. Our theoretical efforts can be classified into two categories: (1) investigating the electronic and dynamical properties of technologically important quantum materials, and (2) developing new algorithms and calculational methods to study the properties of materials using quantum mechanics.  One of the recent investigations was on the origin of flat bands at the magic angles in twisted bilayer graphene, where the unexpected discovery of superconductivity and strong electron correlation is one of the most intriguing developments in two-dimensional materials. We identified the most critical role of the Fermi ring in the AA-stacked region and showed that the magic angles can be predicted by the moiré periodicity determined by the size of this Fermi ring. The resonant criterion in momentum space makes it possible to coherently combine states on the Fermi ring through scattering by the moiré potential, leading to flat bands near the Fermi level.

• B.S., Physics, 1980, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• M.S., Physics, 1983, University of California, Berkeley, USA
• Ph.D., Physics, 1986, University of California, Berkeley, USA

• Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of California, Berkeley (1980 – 1981)
• Graduate Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley (1981 – 1986)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Exxon Research and Engineering Company (1986 – 1988)
• Assistant Professor, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (1989 – 1993)
• Associate Professor, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (1993 – 1998)
• Professor, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (1998 – 2015)
• ADVANCE Professor of Science, Georgia Institute of Technology (2002 – 2006)
• Chair, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (2005 – 2010)
• Director, Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2011 - 2016)
• Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics, National Taiwan University (2011 - present)
• Vice President, Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2016 - present)

• Earle C. Anthony Fellowship, University of California, USA (1980 – 1981)
• Victor F. Lenzen Memorial Scholarship, University of California, USA (1982 –1984)
• Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, USA (1990 – 1992)
• David and Lucile Packard Fellowship, USA (1990 – 1995)
• Presidential Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation, USA (1991 – 1996)
• Sigma Xi Young Faculty Award, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA (1993)
• Institute Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA (1994 – 1999)
• Fellow, American Physical Society, USA (2002)
• College of Sciences Ralph and Jewel Gretzinger Moving Forward School Award, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA (2009)
• Outstanding Taiwan Woman Scientist Award, 2013
• Outstanding Referee, American Physical Society Journals, 2013
• Academician, Academia Sinica, 2014
• Fellow, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) , 2019