Jennifer Cano, an associate professor at Stony Brook University's Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded the 2025 Stony Brook Discovery Prize. Her research focuses on developing energy-efficient materials that could transform electronic devices.
The Discovery Prize, established in 2013 by a donation from the Stony Brook Foundation’s Board of Trustees, aims to support innovative research with the potential to reshape scientific fields and address global challenges. The competition awards $200,000 to early-career researchers in STEM whose ideas may not align with traditional funding agency criteria.
On March 6, three finalists presented their research at the Charles B. Wang Center Theatre before a panel of judges. The presentations were guided by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science to ensure clarity and impact.
Stony Brook University Interim President Richard L. McCormick highlighted the importance of such pioneering research: “The Discovery Prize funds the kind of research that may be so revolutionary, so contrary to convention, that funding agencies are unlikely to provide support — research that takes us by surprise and changes the future of our world.”
Cano's proposal, "Theoretical Framework for the Discovery of Topological Moiré Materials," addresses energy dissipation in electronics. She noted that “Phones, computers, and the networks that power them consume 10% of global energy, on par with the airline industry.” Her work involves creating a 'dissipationless wire' using stacked two-dimensional materials one atom thick.
While existing superconductors require low temperatures to function efficiently, Cano's work aims at finding room-temperature solutions. She expressed gratitude for winning: “I’m really excited to have won this prize. It’s going to be really impactful for my research group, and I’m incredibly thankful to the Research Foundation for sponsoring this award.” Cano also thanked Nancy Moes and Radha Ganesan from the Alan Alda Center for their assistance.
Judges included Nobel Laureate Barry Barish; JoAnne Hewett from Brookhaven National Laboratory; and Shadi Sandvik from SUNY. Hewett praised Cano’s approach: “It was the approach to the problem...that impressed us as judges."
President McCormick concluded by acknowledging all finalists: “Your pursuit of compelling questions and your dedication to discovery are what make Stony Brook a center of scientific excellence.”
Past winners include Chris Johnson (2023), Eszter Boros (2021), Il Memming Park (2019), Thomas Allison (2017), and Laurie Krug (2014).
— Beth Squire
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