Norman M. Leff Assistant Professor Na-Hyun Jo

Dr. Na-Hyun Jo, the Norman L. Leff University of Michigan Assistant Professor of Physics, has been named a 2026 Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). This prestigious award recognizes early-career scholars who excel in both research and teaching. Dr. Jo is among 24 outstanding teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics, and astronomy from 23 different institutions to be awarded this title.

“This is an exceptional cohort of teacher‑scholars whose innovative work fuels discovery across the physical sciences,” said Eric Isaacs, President & CEO of RCSA. “Their insights and energy will strengthen a 600-member network of researchers, leaders, and mentors dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge while shaping the future of science and science teaching in the United States and Canada.” 

Dr. Jo was recognized for her research on advancing uniaxial stress devices specifically designed for angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) in quantum materials. Until now, experimental investigations into electronic-structure changes under systematically tunable uniaxial stress have primarily focused on three-dimensional (3D) bulk materials. These bulk systems, composed of vast numbers of atoms, present significant complexity—making it difficult to reveal their intrinsic quantum properties. Additionally, the need for substantial stress to manipulate physical characteristics often leads to material fracture at relatively low strain levels, further complicating research efforts.

While recent studies have begun to explore uniaxial stress tuning in two-dimensional (2D) materials, these have largely relied on optical or electrical measurements, leaving direct ARPES studies unexplored. In this proposal, Dr. Jo’s research team aims to break new ground by developing novel uniaxial stress devices that enable ARPES investigations of 2D materials. This work not only extends their proven expertise in strain tuning of 3D systems but also opens exciting possibilities for systematic, high-resolution exploration of quantum phenomena unique to 2D materials.

Dr. Jo will also bring active learning to upper-level physics courses, starting with Physics 405. She knows that many students find these classes difficult because of the advanced math and tricky concepts, such as electric and magnetic fields. By encouraging students to work on practice problems together and share ideas in groups, Dr. Jo hopes to make these challenging topics easier to understand and help students feel more confident in their physics studies.

More information:
Na Hun Jo, Norman M. Leff Assistant Professor of Physics

2026 Cottrell Scholars