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Prineha Narang named U.S. Science Envoy by State Department

Prineha Narang

Prineha Narang, UCLA professor in Physical Sciences and member of the California Nanosystems Institute at UCLA, is one of seven U.S. researchers who’ve been named 2023 U.S. Science Envoys by the Department of State.

U.S. Science Envoys, approved by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will engage internationally at the citizen and government levels to enhance relationships between other nations and the United States, develop partnerships and improve collaboration.

“We are honored that the State Department has recognized UCLA’s strengths in the field of quantum materials with the appointment of Professor Narang as U.S. Science Envoy,” said Chancellor Gene Block. “She is a perfect choice to forge the international relationships necessary to realize the potential of this new field of science.”

Narang leads an interdisciplinary group in quantum science and technology and in her role of U.S. Science Envoy she will help focus on this key priority area. She has received international awards from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Max Planck Society, American Physical Society and others. In 2017, she was on Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30” list for her work in atom-by-atom quantum engineering.

“Quantum science and technology is an area not only of critical importance nationally but requires international partnerships,” Narang said. “I’m looking forward to sharing what we’re doing here at UCLA and engaging the private sector via CNSI to move quantum technologies into impactful real-world applications”.

Narang designs materials at the smallest scale, using single atoms, to enable the leap to quantum technologies. Quantum materials are used in emerging computing and communications technologies with capabilities that far surpass conventional technologies but still face many scientific and practical challenges.

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