Qiao Yutang ’25
Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology (SPST)
College: Dadao College
High school: Dalian Yuming Senior High School
Post-graduation destination: Yale University, PhD in Physics (fully funded)
Honors and awards:
Graduate Excellence Award of Shanghai
Graduate Excellence Award of ShanghaiTech
Member of the ShanghaiTech team in 13th China Undergraduate Physics Tournament (CUPT), winning National First Prize
Excellent Student Award of ShanghaiTech 2021–2022, 2022–2023, and 2023–2024
International exchange:
UC Berkeley 3+1 Exchange Program in 2024, funded by SPST, achieving a full GPA
Exploration and perseverance: pathway to physics research
For Qiao Yutang, physics is the key to unveiling the mysteries of the universe. His fascination began in high school during physics competitions, where the interplay of mathematics and physics revealed the elegance of complex problems through clever solutions. This passion led him to choose physics at ShanghaiTech University four years ago.
University life, however, proved far more challenging than anticipated. All-English textbooks, a rigorous mix of major and general education courses, and the pressure from talented peers found Qiao losing his confidence, weighed down with self-doubt. The intricate derivations in the Mathematical Analysis course and the flood of new concepts encountered in lectures highlighted the gap between high school and university. Repeated low exam scores underscored his weaknesses, pushing him to confront them head-on. Qiao adopted a disciplined schedule, sacrificing leisure time to focus on understanding and practicing course material. This perseverance paid off after several months’ effort. Reflecting on this, he realized, “those nights of confusion were quietly building the steps of my growth.” Countless late nights annotating textbooks and deriving equations on the whiteboards of seminar rooms became milestones on his research journey.
Competitions and research: finding direction through exploration
As a first-year student, Qiao joined one of the university teams for the China Undergraduate Physics Tournament (CUPT). From campus qualifiers to the East China regional competition and finally the national stage, this experience marked a turning point. His project, investigating the fragmentation and size distribution of water-alcohol mixture droplets on hydrophobic surfaces, was both challenging and captivating. To tackle it, Qiao self-studied fluid mechanics, delved into extensive literature, and conducted numerous experiments. His efforts earned recognition from advisors during group discussions. From experimental design to theoretical derivations and debate preparation, Qiao and his teammates tackled five complex topics, ultimately winning the National First Prize—the best result for ShanghaiTech in all its years of participation. Their initiative and creativity were fully ignited in the competition. Qiao not only experienced the power of teamwork through CUPT but also opened a door to scientific research.
We participated in CUPT and discussed the projects.
In his sophomore year, Qiao explored condensed matter physics and quantum materials. The discovery that a slight twist in two-layer 2D materials could induce superconductivity and other novel quantum phenomena deeply attracted him. Recognizing the field’s impact on materials science, energy technology, and quantum computing, he joined Associate Professor Li Gang’s research group to systematically study solid-state physics and quantum many-body theory. He learned how theoretical physicists use approximations and computational methods to address complex quantum interactions, laying a solid foundation for his research career. In his junior year, Qiao served as a teaching assistant for the General Physics course. “Understanding physics concepts is just the first step, and explaining them clearly to others is a greater challenge,” he noted. This role strengthened his knowledge and honed his logical expression and comprehension skills.
I worked as a teaching assistant for the General Physics course and explained students’ questions.
Breakthrough: international exchange and research in action
In spring 2024, Qiao participated in the one-year ShanghaiTech 3+1 exchange program with UC Berkeley, joining Professor Michael Crommie’s group for an immersive experimental physics journey. While taking courses, he also engaged in research, mastering the fabrication process for 2D material devices and learning to operate and maintain a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Qiao contributed to studying the electronic structures of various molecules, optimizing synthesis conditions for graphene nanoribbons and metal-organic frameworks, and characterizing their electronic properties using STM.
A photo of UC Berkeley’s campus
From fabricating graphene nanodevices to characterizing 2D materials, Qiao faced countless failures in the lab. His first independent fabrication of a graphene break junction, requiring 10-nanometer precision, kept him in the lab for a week. When the experimental signal finally appeared on the screen, the thrill and relief were profound, underscoring the importance of persistence and patience in research.
Harvest: the rewards of perseverance
Four years of dedication culminated in fully funded PhD offers from top universities like Yale University. Reflecting on his journey, Qiao values not just the PhD offers but the growth fostered at ShanghaiTech. The freedom to participate in CUPT and research, supported by the SPST’s resources and advisors’ guidance, cultivated his ability to explore independently. The hands-on experience at UC Berkeley’s cutting-edge labs equipped him with professional research skills. Countless experiments and challenging theoretical derivations taught him that strides stem from relentless perseverance.
A photo taken in the lab
Standing at the threshold of graduation, the once-curious freshman has grown into a researcher armed with theoretical and experimental expertise. Qiao knows this is not the end but the beginning of a deeper exploration into the physical world. Looking ahead, he holds fast to his aspiration: “On this journey, we need both the romance of stargazing and the resolve to stay grounded!”