Hanqing Zhao (PhDPhys’25) awarded prestigious Glenn H. Brown Prize
Ivan Smalyukh and Hanqing Zhao
Recent PhD graduate Hanqing Zhao was awarded the prestigious 2025 from the International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS). The award is presented to recent doctoral graduates whose theses demonstrate an “outstanding contribution to the science of liquid crystals.” Zhao will be recognized for the award at the upcoming International Liquid Crystal Conference in June 2026.
Zhao, who is now a postdoctoral associate at the International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter at Hiroshima University, completed his PhD at ӽ紫ý in 2025 under the mentorship of Ivan Smalyukh, professor of physics and RASEI fellow.
Zhao’s research focused on creating and observing particle-like structures known as topological solitons and time crystals in liquid crystal systems. With external force, these structures can organize into ordered states, forming not only spatial crystals, but also “crystals in time,” known as time crystals, explains Zhao.
Among many contributions, Zhao was lead author on a highly publicized last fall, which described the creation of a time crystal visible to humans. This work was featured by ӽ紫ý Today.
“I would like to thank my advisor, whose guidance made it possible for me to carry out this exciting work during my PhD,” says Zhao. “Receiving this award is a wonderful encouragement and a very meaningful start to my research career. It also motivates me to continue contributing to the liquid crystal community in the future.”
Zhao is the third graduate from the Smalyukh Group to receive the prize, joining Benny Tai (2022) and Angel Martinez (2016).