Team

Prithivi Rana

Graduate student (Physics)

Prithivi is a PhD student currently working at the intersection of condensed matter physics and quantum optics using experimental tools. He grew up in Nepal and went to Ramapo College of New Jersey as an undergraduate where he majored in Engineering Physics and minored in Computer Science. When not in the lab, he enjoys going to museums, concerts, trying out new food, traveling, and spending time in nature.

Hayden Orth

Graduate student (Physics)

Hayden is interested in studying quantum optics and light-matter interactions with ultracold atoms. He spends his time in the lab working on the strontium atom array experiment. Hayden completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where he worked in quantum optomechanics.

Duo Xu

Graduate student (Physics)

Duo studied physics and mathematics as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. He joined NYU physics as a theory student in 2022 and finished a master thesis in quantum simulation using neutral atoms. He is now interested in experimental ultracold atoms and joined the group in 2024. His research interests include light-matter interactions, quantum optics, and quantum information. He is currently working on an ultracold strontium experiment to study light-matter interactions by leveraging collective excitations in ordered atomic arrays.

Xavier Moskala

Graduate student (Physics)

Xavier is a PhD student investigating the use of spin defects as quantum sensors for probing nanoscale features and electron spin dynamics of thin-film magnetic materials. In 2024, he received his B.S. in Physics from Case Western Reserve University, where he engaged in a number of research projects in various fields of physics. Outside of research and coursework, Xavier occupies his time with transient hobbies, the most recent of which are practicing his penmanship, reading fiction, and tinkering with various electronic devices.

Hao Wang

Graduate student (Physics)

Hao joined the lab as a PhD student after completing his undergraduate studies at Nanjing University, China. He is mainly interested in studying quantum optics and atom-light interactions. Outside of his research, he enjoys the "chemistry" of cooking, even if the results are—much like a difficult experiment—still a work in progress.

Koki Furusho

Undergraduate student (Electrical & Computer Engineering and Applied Physics)

Koki is a sophomore undergraduate student studying Electrical & Computer Engineering and Applied Physics. He is from Tokyo, Japan, where he spent much of his time playing varsity baseball.

Madeleine Bartin

Intern

Madeleine graduated in May of 2025 with dual Bachelor’s degrees in physics and international studies. She’s excited to be working in the lab as an intern and assisting with research on spin defects.

Bandit

Lab mascot

Mingyang Su

Research Intern (Alum)