News

The Jerison & Dinner groups have developed a new tool for the identification and discovery of different types of dynamical behavior in a range of complex systems. In their recent publication in PRX Life, they train neural networks to infer the topology of dynamical flows from trajectory data by using contrastive learning on coordinate-invariant representations.

Dmitri Talapin received the ACS Award in Colloid Chemistry in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field.

The Vaikuntanathan group found that biophysical systems have intrinsic limitations on their information processing power and explained how these limitations are overcome. Their article in Nature Communications uses tools from non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to demonstrate both the intrinsic limitations and how input multiplicity—behaviors such as the ability of enzymes to interact with multiple targets—can overcome them.

In response to a series of puzzling observations of light-induced "superconductivity" discovered by A. Cavalleri, the Levin group showed that the materials in which he found this phenomenon all seem to be strongly paired superconductors but in their normal state (above Tc). Their article in npj Quantum Materials explains his experiments by discussing how radiation exposure causes the preformed pairs in these materials to become more plentiful as the damaging fermions are excited away. The light creates a new state of matter, showing diamagnetic signatures without true superconducting long-range order.

The Alivisatos & Engel groups introduced a mechanism for the efficient up-conversion observed in CsPbBr₃ lead halide perovskite nanocrystals. Their paper in Nature Communications discusses how they used photoluminescence measurements to reveal that the up-conversion is mediated by the Pb-Br-Pb bending phonon mode (~7 meV) and involves unexpected coherent lattice motion synchronized with exciton-polaron formation.

Joshua Wagner, a graduate student with the Steve Sibener Group, has been named the recipient of the distinguished Dorothy M. and Earl S. Hoffman Award from the AVS (American Vacuum Society). 

Michelle Brann has received the 2025 ACS Astrochemistry Dissertation Award in recognition for the significant contributions made during her doctoral studies with Prof. Steven J. Sibener.

Postdocs from multiple labs joined in the Spring JFI postdoc happy hour! Look out for another happy hour coming in the Fall.

Sid Nagel was interviewed by Quanta Magazine on the physics of "ordinary" phenomena.

JFI Travel Award enables trainees to attend and present their research at a scientific conference between 2/1/2025-1/31/2026.  The award will be for $600 towards reimbursement of travel expenses (hotel & transportation).  Applications for the forthcoming year will be considered starting 6/1.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria: (1) Be a graduate student or post-doctoral trainee in the James Franck Institute at the time of application and travel. (2) Priority will be given to those who have not previously received an award. (3) Personal Statement, Budget and Note from Advisor will be the primary means of selection. (4) Consideration will be made to distribute awards equitably across JFI groups. No more than two applications per group per.

Margaret Gardel & Peter Littlewood have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences

The Littlewood group introduced a general classical linear field theory for non-reciprocal interactions. Their article in Physical Review E demonstrates how non-reciprocity can, surprisingly, enhance stability, while instabilities occur at Critical Exceptional Points.

The Guyot-Sionnest group designed highly sensitive quantum dot photoconductors with optical enhancement. Their publication in ACS Nano discusses how they used a HgTe quantum dot film to create photoconductors with a ~20-fold improvement in long-wave infrared detectivity.

Vincenzo Vitelli was named a CNRS Fellow-Ambassador, which invites leading researchers to visit and mentor with French laboratories.