Jennifer Cano, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University, has been awarded the 2025 Stony Brook Discovery Prize. Her research focuses on developing energy-efficient materials to power electronic devices, with the potential to transform technology.
The Discovery Prize, established in 2013 by a donation from the Stony Brook Foundation’s Board of Trustees, recognizes pioneering research that can reshape scientific fields and address global challenges. The prize provides $200,000 in funding for early-career researchers in STEM whose ideas may be too unconventional for traditional funding sources.
The final competition took place on March 6 at the Charles B. Wang Center Theatre. Three finalists presented their work to a panel of judges after receiving guidance from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.
Stony Brook University Interim President Richard L. McCormick emphasized the prize's importance: “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,” aims to tackle energy dissipation in electronics. She explained that electronic devices consume significant global energy: “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 and twisted two-dimensional materials one atom thick. This could lead to new conductors that operate efficiently at room temperature.
Expressing gratitude for her award and funding, Cano said: “I’m really excited to have won this prize. It’s going to be really impactful for my research group.” She thanked Nancy Moes and Radha Ganesan from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science for their help with her presentation.
The judging panel included Barry Barish, Nobel Laureate; 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 with appreciation for 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