ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6894-6765
Scopus Author ID: 56152881900
Google Scholar Profile: Zoall6AAAAAJ

Metrics for Academic and Research Impact

PhD, University of Geneva

M.Phil., The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

B.Eng., Zhejiang University

Danfeng Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study and Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Education) in the College of Science at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). Prof. Li has received several prestigious awards and recognitions, including the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship in 2025, AAPPS-APCTP Chen-Ning Yang Award in 2023, The Oxide Electronics Prize for Excellence in Research in 2024, the MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 (China) in 2021, the Outstanding Alumni Awards from Department of Applied Physics,  Faculty of Science as well as the Graduate School of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2025, and named in the Stanford's List of World's Top 2% Scientists since 2023.

Prof. Li obtained his B.Eng. from Zhejiang University and M.Phil. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (advisor: Prof. Ji-yan Dai). Shortly after earning his Ph.D. (2016) in the Department of Quantum Matter Physics at University of Geneva (advisor: Prof. Jean-Marc Triscone), he joined Stanford University as a Swiss National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow, working with Prof. Harold Hwang. He joined CityUHK as an Assistant Professor in November 2020, and was promoted to Associate Professor in July 2024.

Prof. Li's main research interests span across condensed-matter physics and materials science, focusing on atomic-scale fabrication of oxide heterostructures and nanomembranes, kinetic based synthesis of unconventional quantum materials, low-dimensional superconductivity, oxide interfaces for emergent states, etc. In 2019, a team led by Prof. Li and Prof. Hwang discovered the first nickelate superconductor, which had been a target of continuous materials search for over three decades. This discovery has opened a new research area, which now marks nickelates as the new family of high-temperature superconductors.

We typically have open positions for PhD students and Postdoc Fellows. Candidates with strong interest and motivation in high-temperature superconductors, thin-film synthesis and low-temperature quantum transport are encouraged to contact Prof. Li at [email protected] with CV attached.