Department of Physics & Astronomy

Yunjin Choi, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Riverside, is a recipient of the 2019-20 M. Hildred Blewett Fellowship awarded by the American Physical Society, or APS, to enable women to return to physics research after having had an interruption in their careers. 

Choi, who works with Shan-Wen Tsai, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, received her doctoral degree in theoretical physics from the University of Rochester in 2016. In her application for the fellowship, Choi proposed expanding quantum measurement theory for application in quantum many-body systems, a focus of study in Tsai’s research group. 

“The combination of quantum measurement theory and collective many-body or macroscopic quantum phenomena made Yunjin’s proposal unique and strong,” Tsai said. “The topic is timely and relevant to quantum information and quantum computation applications. Yunjin also made a compelling case about her commitment since her undergraduate years at Sogang University in South Korea to advancing diversity in physics, and STEM in general.” 

Choi, who had to put her career on hold for three years for personal reasons, expressed her gratitude to the APS.

“I thank the society for the fellowship,” she said. “It allows me to return to my research and continue in the path of exploring important research questions.” 

Due to the campus closure on account of the coronavirus pandemic, Choi is performing her research from home while also home-schooling her son. Her research has applications in condensed matter and cold-atom systems.