CityUHK scholar wins the Chen Ning Yang Award 2025; sole recipient from Hong Kong, China

Professor Ma Junzhang, from the Department of Physics at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), has been awarded the 2025 Chen Ning Yang Award (C. N. Yang Award) in recognition of his groundbreaking achievements in discovering and characterising multiple emergent quasiparticles across diverse crystalline systems. Professor Ma was the sole awardee from Hong Kong, China this year.

Professor Ma expressed his profound gratitude, saying, "This honour is not only recognition of my personal achievements, but also an acknowledgment of the relentless efforts of my entire research team and numerous collaborators over the years.”

“We will continue to drive cutting-edge research innovation, advance research in quantum materials, and nurture the next generation of scientific talent, ensuring that Hong Kong continues to shine on the international research stage,” he added.

Professor Ma focuses on the electronic structure of topological materials, superconductivity, low-dimensional materials, and correlated materials, utilising Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES). His pioneering research has deepened understanding of quantum materials and exemplifies the profound principle of “more is different” in condensed matter physics.

Before receiving the C. N. Yang Award, Professor Ma had already earned multiple international accolades, including the Early Career Award by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong in 2023 and the Young Scientist Award by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics in 2024.

The C. N. Yang Award is jointly conferred by the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies (AAPPS) and the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP). Each year, it is awarded to only three young scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of physics. The prize aims to recognise outstanding young researchers, promote the development of physics in the Asia-Pacific region, and advance global scientific progress. It is one of the most prestigious honours in the Asia-Pacific physics community.