U of A Researcher Joins Elite Ranks of Physics Fellows

Jin Hu, a University of Arkansas professor of physics, was named a fellow of the American Physical Society. The recognition honors outstanding members of America’s largest physics organization. Each year, no more than one-half of 1% of the society’s members, excluding student members, are named fellows. 

Hu was selected as a fellow in the Topical Group on Quantum Materials Synthesis. His fellowship citation recognizes his “outstanding achievements in the synthesis of superconducting, topological, and magnetic materials, which have enabled the discovery and understanding of exotic quantum phases and the control of their emergent properties.” 

“What I find really remarkable is that Jin Hu is still in the early stage of his career but already belongs to the top 2% most cited scientists in the world, which demonstrates the huge impact of his research,” said Laurent Bellaiche, U of A Distinguished Professor of physics, “(Hu’s lab) operates at the forefront of condensed matter physics, discovering and engineering novel quantum materials, revealing emergent phenomena, and uncovering the underlying mechanisms that may enable next-generation quantum and electronic technologies.” 

Four other current U of A physicists, including Bellaiche, Julio Gea-Banacloche, Surendra Singh and Daniel Kennefick, are APS fellows. Greg Salamo was the most recent U of A physicist to receive the honor in 2016. He retired earlier this year. 

In 2017, Hu came to the Department of Physics in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences after completing his Ph.D. and a postdoc at Tulane University. He was promoted to associate professor in 2023 and full professor in 2026. 

“This great honor reflects not only my work, but the hard work of students and collaborators along with the support of the department, the college and the Arkansas Materials Institute (the previous Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering),” Hu said. 

Hu’s fascination with physics began in childhood, when he saw the discipline as a way to understand the physical world around him. The more he learned, however, the more he realized how much remains unknown. 

“Every month, we observe fascinating properties in materials that we cannot explain,” Hu said. “That is what excites me. I want to understand the physics behind those properties.”