Associate Professor at Soochow University | China
Prof. Yang Lei is a distinguished theoretical physicist at the Institute of Advanced Study, Soochow University, specializing in black hole physics, holography, and quantum field theory. With extensive training and research experience from world-renowned institutions such as Peking University, Durham University, and Niels Bohr Institute, Prof. Lei is recognized for his cutting-edge work on AdS/CFT correspondence and non-relativistic holography, making him a rising voice in the global high-energy physics community.
Profile
Scopus
ORCID
🎓 Early Academic Pursuits
Prof. Lei began his academic journey at the prestigious Yuanpei College, Peking University, earning his Bachelor’s degree in 2011, with a second major in Mathematics a testament to his foundational strength in formal theoretical reasoning. He pursued his MSc in Particles, Strings, and Cosmology at Durham University, supervised by Simon Ross, followed by a PhD in Mathematics, with a focus on Singularities in holographic non-relativistic spacetimes an area of deep relevance in modern quantum gravity.
👨🔬 Professional Endeavors
Following his PhD, Prof. Yang Lei embarked on an impressive journey through several prestigious postdoctoral positions at top-tier institutions including the Institute of Theoretical Physics, CAS, University of the Witwatersrand, Niels Bohr Institute, and Kavli Institute of Theoretical Science (KITS), UCAS. In 2022, he was appointed as an Associate Professor at Soochow University, where he continues to lead cutting-edge research and mentor young physicists, contributing meaningfully to the field of theoretical high-energy physics.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Prof. Lei’s research is centered on black holes, holography, AdS/CFT duality, non-relativistic limits of field theories, and quantum gravity. His studies on spin matrix theory, EVH (Extremal Vanishing Horizon) black holes, and modular factorization in superconformal indices showcase his theoretical versatility and original insights into foundational questions of physics.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Prof. Lei has delivered more than 20 invited talks at prestigious international conferences, including String 2016, Tsinghua University, and Joburg Workshop on String Theory. His presence at academic forums and black hole workshops affirms his growing influence in the global theoretical physics community. He also demonstrates leadership in academic outreach through organizing workshops like the SUIAS HEP Workshop and KITS Summer School, promoting collaborative learning in high-energy physics.
📈 Academic Citations
While specific citation metrics were not detailed in the current profile, Prof. Lei’s consistent conference participation, grants awarded, and long-term collaborations with major institutions indicate a highly regarded academic presence, especially within holography and black hole research circles.
🛠️ Research Skills
Prof. Yang Lei possesses a sophisticated toolkit of theoretical and mathematical techniques, including AdS/CFT duality calculations, non-relativistic quantum field theory, spin matrix theory analysis, black hole thermodynamics, modular invariance, and superconformal indices, as well as advanced perturbation theory and resurgence. These research capabilities enable him to tackle some of the most complex and unsolved problems in quantum gravity and holographic dualities, reinforcing his role as a leading thinker in high-energy theoretical physics.
👨🏫 Teaching Experience
Prof. Yang Lei is a highly engaged educator, teaching core physics courses in English at Soochow University, such as Quantum Mechanics (Autumn 2023) and Solid State Physics (Spring 2023). He also contributed to the KITS Summer School, guiding students on black hole microstates and the information paradox. During his PhD, he served as a Teaching Assistant at Durham University, showcasing his well-rounded dedication to both academic instruction and research mentorship in theoretical physics.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Prof. Yang Lei‘s exceptional contributions have earned him prestigious awards and competitive grants, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Researcher Grant (2024–2026), the China Postdoc Surface Grant (2021–2022), and the Overseas Postdoc Introduction and Communication Grant (2016–2018). He also received the Peter Rowe Memorial Postgraduate Prize (2012) and the Durham Teaching and Learning Award (UK HEA Associate Fellowship, 2016). These accolades highlight his scholarly excellence, peer recognition, and international collaboration.
🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions
With a solid academic foundation, global collaborations, and an ever-expanding research portfolio, Prof. Yang Lei is on a trajectory to become a leading voice in quantum gravity and holography. His future contributions are expected to shape our understanding of black hole dynamics, non-AdS holography, and quantum field theories under extreme conditions. He is well-positioned to continue his impactful journey as a scholar, educator, and thought leader in modern theoretical physics.
Publications Top Notes
Conformal mapping of non-Lorentzian geometries in SU(1, 2) Conformal Field Theory
-
Authors: Stefano Baiguera, Troels Harmark, Yang Lei, Ziqi Yan
Journal: Journal of High Energy Physics
Year: 2025
Modularity in d > 2 free conformal field theory
Quasinormal modes of C-metric from SCFTs
-
Authors: Yang Lei, Hongfei Shu, Kilar Zhang, Ruidong Zhu
Journal: Journal of High Energy Physics
Year: 2024
Modular factorization of superconformal indices
-
Authors: Vishnu Jejjala, Yang Lei, Sam van Leuven, Wei Li
Journal: Journal of High Energy Physics
Year: 2023
The Panorama of Spin Matrix theory