Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science

Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science is a premier research center dedicated to advancing the fundamental understanding and control of matter at the nanoscale. Established in 2004 through a generous endowment from The Kavli Foundation, it operates within the Cornell University ecosystem, leveraging the university's historic strengths in materials science and engineering physics. The institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to explore novel phenomena and develop transformative technologies that emerge at the intersection of the atomic and macroscopic worlds.

History and establishment

The institute was founded in 2004 following a major philanthropic gift from Fred Kavli and The Kavli Foundation, which has established similar institutes at leading institutions worldwide, including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology. Its creation built upon Cornell University's long-standing leadership in nanoscale research, notably through facilities like the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), a cornerstone of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure. The founding director was Harold Craighead, a prominent figure in nanobiotechnology. This establishment formalized and expanded Cornell University's coordinated efforts in probing the unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that dominate at dimensions of billionths of a meter.

Research focus and facilities

Research at the institute is centered on manipulating and understanding materials and devices at the atomic and molecular scale. Core themes include investigating quantum materials and topological insulators, advancing nanophotonics and plasmonics, and pioneering new methods in electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy. A key enabling facility is the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), a National Science Foundation-supported Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). Scientists utilize world-class tools such as ultrahigh vacuum systems, molecular beam epitaxy, and advanced lithography techniques housed within the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF). This integrated infrastructure allows for the synthesis, fabrication, and atomic-scale characterization of novel nanostructures.

Key scientific contributions

Researchers affiliated with the institute have made seminal advances across multiple frontiers of nanoscience. Pioneering work includes the development of innovative 2D materials beyond graphene, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, and probing their exotic electronic properties. The institute has been instrumental in breakthroughs in cryogenic electron microscopy techniques for imaging soft and biological materials. Studies of superconductivity in nanostructured systems and the exploration of Majorana fermions for potential quantum computing applications represent other significant contributions. These efforts are frequently published in high-impact journals like *Nature* and *Science* and recognized by awards such as the Wolf Prize in Physics and the Buckley Prize.

Organizational structure and leadership

The institute is led by a director, a position held since 2018 by J. C. Séamus Davis, a professor of physics at Cornell University and a senior physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Governance involves an executive committee composed of faculty from across Cornell University's colleges, including the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. The research is conducted by a core group of affiliated faculty fellows, along with postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and technical staff. Strategic guidance is provided by an external board of advisors that includes leaders from academia and industry, ensuring the institute's work remains at the cutting edge of global nanoscience.

Collaborations and partnerships

The institute maintains extensive collaborative networks that amplify its research impact. It works closely with other Kavli Institutes, federal laboratories like Brookhaven National Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and industrial partners in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors. Within Cornell University, it synergizes with major centers such as the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future and the Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics (LASSP). International partnerships with institutions like the Max Planck Society in Germany and the University of Tokyo in Japan facilitate global exchange of ideas and techniques, cementing its role in the worldwide nanoscience community.

Category:Research institutes in New York (state) Category:Cornell University Category:Nanotechnology organizations Category:Kavli Institute