Stony Brook University Associate Professor Jennifer Cano has been honored with the inaugural Chancellor’s Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship by the State University of New York (SUNY). This award, presented by SUNY Chancellor John B. King, recognizes early career faculty whose work has gained significant recognition and shows potential for future impact. The award was given to 10 professors across the SUNY system.
Professor Cano specializes in theoretical physics, focusing on quantum materials and topological phases of matter. Her research includes developing theories such as topological quantum chemistry to predict new materials. Carl W. Lejuez, executive vice president and provost, stated, “I am so pleased to see Professor Cano and her work recognized as one of the top early-career researchers in the SUNY system.”
Chang Kee Jung, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University, expressed his admiration for Cano's achievements: “While I am exceptionally delighted that Jen is recognized by the SUNY Chancellor’s Horizon Award for her outstanding work in condensed matter physics, I am not surprised by the recognition.”
The selection process involved a review by Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost. Up to 10 awards will be conferred annually.
In addition to this accolade, Professor Cano also received Stony Brook University’s Discovery Prize 2025 for her proposal on "Theoretical Framework for the Discovery of Topological Moiré Materials." This prize supports innovative scientific research by early-career faculty at Stony Brook.
Cano earned her PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2015 and later worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton Center for Theoretical Science before joining Stony Brook in 2018.