Nicole Yunger Halpern

Nicole Yunger Halpern
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDartmouth College, University of Waterloo, California Institute of Technology
Known forQuantum thermodynamics
Scientific career
FieldsQuantum thermodynamics
InstitutionsNational Institute of Standards and Technology

University of Maryland, College Park

Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
ThesisQuantum Steampunk: Quantum Information, Thermodynamics, Their Intersection, and Applications Thereof Across Physics (2018)
Doctoral advisorJohn Preskill
Websitehttps://quics.umd.edu/people/nicole-yunger-halpern

Nicole Yunger Halpern is an American author and theoretical physicist specializing in quantum thermodynamics. She works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is a fellow of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, and an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, College Park.[1]

Education

Yunger Halpern received her bachelor's degree in physics from Dartmouth College in 2011 and a masters degree in physics at the University of Waterloo in 2013. She received a PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 2018, where she studied under John Preskill.[2][3] Her dissertation was titled "Quantum Steampunk: Quantum Information, Thermodynamics, Their Intersection, and Applications Thereof Across Physics".[4] From 2018–2021 she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics at Harvard University.[3]

Quantum Steampunk

Yunger Halpern has discussed the relationship between her current quantum thermodynamics research and historical classical thermodynamics.[5] A steampunk fan, she has used the genre to teach about quantum mechanics, using the term "quantum steampunk" to describe a combination of traditional steampunk with quantum technology.[6] In 2022 she published her first book, "Quantum Steampunk", which uses steampunk elements to discuss quantum technology in a format accessible to those without a background in physics.[7][8] Since its publication the book has received critical acclaim, and won the 2023 PROSE Award for Best Book in Popular Science and Popular Mathematics from the Association of American Publishers.[9] She has also discussed and promoted quantum steampunk as an emerging subgenre of science fiction, organizing a quantum steampunk creative writing contest in 2023, and creating and teaching a quantum steampunk themed class at the University of Maryland in 2025.[10][11] Yunger Halpern's research group is named "The Quantum-Steampunk Laboratory".[12]

Awards and accolades

References

  1. ^ "Nicole Yunger Halpern | Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS)". quics.netlify.app. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  2. ^ Suplee, Anne. "Yunger Halpern, Nicole – UMD Physics". umdphysics.umd.edu. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  3. ^ a b "Dr. Nicole Yunger Halpern". lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  4. ^ Yunger Halpern, Nicole (2018). Quantum Steampunk: Quantum Information, Thermodynamics, Their Intersection, and Applications Thereof Across Physics (phd thesis). California Institute of Technology.
  5. ^ "Why this physicist is bringing thermodynamics to the quantum age". 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  6. ^ "A Physicist and Steampunk Enthusiast Explores Thermodynamics in the Quantum World". NIST. 2025-02-13.
  7. ^ Halpern, Nicole Yunger (2022-04-12). Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow. JHU Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-4372-0.
  8. ^ McDermott-Murphy, Caitlin (2022-03-31). "Using steampunk to explain quantum physics". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  9. ^ a b "2023 Award Winners | PROSE Awards". proseawards.com. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  10. ^ Halpern, Nicole Yunger (2022-10-10). "Announcing the quantum-steampunk short-story contest!". Quantum Frontiers. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  11. ^ "'Quantum Steampunk' Creative Writing Course Explores the Science of…". Maryland Today. 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  12. ^ "The Quantum-Steampunk Laboratory · Theoretical-physics research group of Nicole Yunger Halpern". quantumsteampunk.umiacs.io. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  13. ^ "2025 Early Career Scientist Award (ESCA) in Statistical Physics – Nicole Yunger Halpern". NIST. 2025-05-05.
  14. ^ "2024 Hermann Weyl Prize – Nicole Yunger Halpern". NIST. 2024-03-20.
  15. ^ "Katharine B. Gebbie Young Scientist Award". SIGMA XI – NIST Chapter #266. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  16. ^ "Mary Somerville Medal and Prize recipients | Institute of Physics". www.iop.org. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  17. ^ Harper, Rachael (2020-10-23). "IOP Publishing's International Quantum Technology award winners are announced". IOP Publishing. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
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