HKUST Prof. LAW Kam-Tuen Named "New Cornerstone Investigator" – Hong Kong's Only Honoree this Year

Prof. LAW Kam-Tuen, Chair Professor of the Department of Physics and the Director of Research Office at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been named a "New Cornerstone Investigator" by the Tencent-funded New Cornerstone Science Foundation. The prestigious award will provide up to RMB 15 million over five years to support his research efforts in quantum physics.

Among 35 distinguished scientists selected this year from across the nation, Prof. Law is the sole honoree from Hong Kong, underscoring HKUST’s leading role in fundamental scientific research.

Prof. Law said, “I am deeply honoured to be selected as a 'New Cornerstone Investigator.' The funding will allow me to freely explore new quantum phenomena in flat band materials, where the kinetic energy of electrons is nearly completely quenched. My goal is to make discoveries in quantum materials that could eventually lead to new designs for electronic and photonic devices. I also plan to use the generous support from Tencent to provide better resources for our young researchers and train the next generation of physicists at HKUST. The award will help us fulfill our mission of establishing HKUST as a global hub for quantum materials research.”

Prof. Tim CHENG Kwang-Ting, Vice-President for Research and Development at HKUST, extended his sincere congratulations to Prof. Law on his election as a “New Cornerstone Investigator” this year. He stated, "We are delighted that Prof Law has been selected as a 'New Cornerstone Investigator', a recognition that highlights his groundbreaking research. In this role, Prof Law and his team will pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven research in quantum materials. We are grateful for Tencent's sustained partnership, previously demonstrated through the establishment of the New Cornerstone Science Laboratory and further affirmed by this recognition.”

An internationally renowned physicist, Prof. Law has made significant contributions to the study of topological superconductors and other topological materials. In 2015, he achieved a breakthrough with the co-discovery of a new type of superconductor, named the Ising superconductors, in collaboration with two experimental groups in the Netherlands and the United States.

Prof. Law earned his B.Sc. degree from HKUST's Department of Physics before obtaining a Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University. He served as a Croucher Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT and returned to HKUST as a faculty member in 2011. His numerous accolades include the 2015 Croucher Innovation Award, the Research Grants Council (RGC) Research Fellowship, the 2023 Achievement in Asia Award (The Robert T. Poe Prize) from the International Organization of Chinese Physicists and Astronomers, and his election as a 2024 Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). His research on topological and strongly correlated quantum materials was further recognized this year through a grant from the RGC’s Areas of Excellence Scheme.

The New Cornerstone Investigator Program, established by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation, supports research in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, as well as Biological and Biomedical Sciences, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research. Operating on a biennial selection cycle, the program selects a maximum of 50 researchers per cohort. Since its launch in 2022, it has recognized 139 outstanding scientists for their exceptional contributions to their respective fields.