This week, UNESCO named physicist Jun Ye to its Quantum 100 list—a catalogue of some of the top leaders around the world in the rapidly growing field of quantum science.
Ye holds the Monroe Endowed Professorship in Physics at CU Boulder and is a fellow at JILA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Among other research goals, Ye has revolutionized how scientists measure time, developing quantum technologies that can track the passage of time with never-before-seen accuracy and precision.
Ye is “recognized for his curiosity and his hands-on approach to experimentation,” according to the Quantum 100 list. “He has built a world-class research program using light, atoms, molecules, and advanced optical tools to explore nature with unprecedented precision.”
The recognition is part of the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, which marks the 100th anniversary of what scientists often consider the beginning of quantum mechanics.
“I love this remarkable piece of science, which connects profound secrets of nature to our growing capabilities of revealing them,” Ye said. “The Year of Quantum has further strengthened the ideal that collaboration among scientists will help us to harness quantum science for building better and more meaningful lives for all of us in the world.”
Ye earned his PhD from CU Boulder in 1997 where he trained under Jan Hall, who went on to win a Nobel Prize in 2005. Ye returned to JILA in 1999 and has received numerous awards for his research, including the 2022 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
“We are thrilled that Jun Ye has been identified as one of the Quantum 100 as part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology,” said Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene. “Jun’s groundbreaking research, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to collaboration and mentorship have been instrumental in driving quantum innovation at CU Boulder, JILA, NIST and across the Front Range, setting a global standard of excellence.”
Ye leads several quantum research initiatives at JILA. They include the CUbit Quantum Initiative and the Quantum Systems through Entangled Science and Engineering (Q-SEnSE) center funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
At JILA, Ye pioneered the design of optical atomic clocks, devices that measure time by tapping the behavior of atoms and electrons. His lab’s clocks would neither gain nor lose a second over billions of years.
Ye and his team have also worked to transform insights into the quantum world into technologies that can improve people’s lives. His lab, for example, built laser-based devices that can analyze samples of human breath, screening people for COVID-19 infections and other health conditions.
The Quantum 100 list also includes Chris Monroe who earned his doctorate in physics from CU Boulder in 1992 and whose investment established Ye’s endowed professorship.
UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a specialized agency of the UN focused on fostering peace, security, and human rights through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. It develops educational tools, promotes cultural heritage, works on scientific endeavors like climate change, and designates World Heritage Sites to preserve globally significant places.