The 2025 XPLORER PRIZE in Physics has been awarded to four exceptional young researchers: Tingxin LI (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Xiongjun LIU (Peking University), Wentao WANG (Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Jin ZHAO (University of Science and Technology of China).

Launched in 2018, the XPLORER PRIZE is one of China’s most generous talent support initiatives for young scientists. It offers unrestricted, merit-based funding to researchers holding full-time positions in mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau SAR.

The selection process is rigorous and highly competitive. Candidates are evaluated independently by a review panel, focusing on the originality of their work, their research independence, and the feasibility of their proposed research plan. Brief introductions to the 2025 awardees in the category of physics are provided below.

Tingxin Li, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Associate Professor Tingxin Li has been deeply involved in experimental research in condensed matter physics, with a particular emphasis on novel emergent quantum states in low-dimensional quantum materials. In recent years, his research has focused on two-dimensional semiconductor moiré systems. He has pioneered innovative device architectures and fabrication techniques to carry out low-temperature quantum transport experiments. Through these efforts, he has uncovered a wide range of correlated and topological quantum states in the topological flat bands of 2D semiconductor moiré systems, including providing the first definitive experimental evidence of the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect.

Xiongjun Liu, Peking University

Professor Xiongjun Liu has long been dedicated to research in cold atom physics and condensed matter theory, and has made a series of original contributions in the areas of quantum simulation with artificial gauge fields and topological phases of matter, significantly advancing these fields. He was the first researcher to propose a model for the spin Hall effect in cold atoms. Together with collaborators, he was the first to artificially synthesize two-dimensional Dirac-type and three-dimensional Weyl-type spin–orbit couplings in ultracold atoms, realizing fundamental models of the quantum anomalous Hall state and Weyl semimetals. Professor Liu proposed the exactly solvable quasiperiodic mosaic models, with which he uncovered a universal mechanism for quasiperiodic critical states, and showed the existence of many-body critical phases. He also showed that Majorana Kramers pairs in time-reversal symmetric topological superconductors exhibit non-Abelian statistics due to symmetry protection and further proposed the concept of symmetry-protected non-Abelian statistics. In recognition of his ground-breaking work, he has received several prestigious honors, including the AAPPS-APCTP Chen-Ning Yang Award, the Zhou Peiyuan Prize from the Chinese Physical Society, and the Asia Achievement Award (Robert T. Poe Prize) from the International Organization of Chinese Physicists and Astronomers (OCPA).

Wentao Wang, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Professor Wentao Wang has been extensively engaged in research on laser wakefield acceleration and the development of novel radiation sources. He has proposed a series of innovative approaches — most notably the collaborative injection scheme — enabling the generation of electron beams with world-leading performance, including the smallest energy spread at the per mille level and the highest brightness to date. He was the first globally to experimentally demonstrate a compact free-electron laser, a milestone achievement featured as the cover story of Nature and recognized as a critical breakthrough in the field. In collaboration with others, he also led the first successful verification of a laboratory-based muon source, an accomplishment that has been hailed as opening a new frontier in the study of muon-based applications. He was awarded “2016 China Optical Important Achievement Award” and “2019 Excellent Member of Youth Innovation Promotion Association” from Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Zhao Jin, University of Science and Technology of China

Professor Zhao Jin has been deeply committed to first-principles theoretical and computational studies of excited-state carrier dynamics in condensed matter systems. Her work addresses fundamental scientific challenges related to photoexcitation, energy conversion, and nonequilibrium phenomena. She developed the internationally recognized nonadiabatic molecular dynamics software Hefei-NAMD, which enables detailed simulations of key interactions such as electron–phonon, electron–hole, and spin–orbit coupling. The program also incorporates light-field effects and machine learning techniques, significantly expanding the toolkit for studying excited-state quantum dynamics in complex materials. Professor Zhao established a comprehensive theoretical and computational framework to describe excited-state processes across multiple dimensions — including time, momentum, energy, and spin — facilitating direct comparison with experimental data on ultrafast dynamics. Her contributions provide critical insights into the physical mechanisms underlying emerging optoelectronic, quantum, and energy materials. In recognition of her achievements, she has received the China Young Female Scientist Award and has been elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).

Authors and Affiliations

Consortia

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.