Michael Levin
University of Chicago
2020 New Horizons in Physics Prize
For incisive contributions to the understanding of topological states of matter and the relationships between them.
Comments
Theoretical physics has the potential to be a solitary endeavor, but I have been grateful to be a part of dynamic communities at the Universities of Chicago, Maryland and California, as well as at Harvard and MIT. I also feel very lucky to have had superb teachers, mentors and collaborators throughout my career. I am especially grateful to my PhD advisor, Xiao-Gang Wen, for introducing me to a fascinating area of research and for being a continual source of inspiration over the years. I would also like to thank my parents for their steady encouragement, as well as my wife, Jen, and two sons Daniel and Oliver for their support – and for putting up with my scribbled notes and sometimes distracted stares! It has all been a great adventure so far, and I’m excited to see where the field will go next.