About me

Summary

Ryan is a Research Scientist in Applied Machine Learning & Quantum Computing, with a track record of delivering successful deep-learning solutions for large-scale recommendation systems and quantum-inspired algorithms for NP-hard combinatorial optimizations. He has rich industry experience from Pinterest, Meta, and Microsoft Research. He holds a Ph.D. in Quantum and Computational Physics & a B.E. in Computer Science and Technology, with a strong interdisciplinary research background & high-impact publications in top-tier journals.

Appointments

• Machine Learning Engineer (Recommender System), Pinterest, 03/2023 - Present
• Review Editor (Condensed Matter Physics), Frontiers in Physics, 04/2023 - 12/2023
• Research Scientist (Machine Learning), Facebook 09/2021 - 01/2023
• Visiting Researcher (Quantum Computing), Microsoft Research 05/2021 - 12/2021
• Research Assistant (Quantum Physics), UT Dallas 11/2016 - 08/2021
• Research Intern (Quantum Computing), Micrsoft Research 06/2020 - 10/2020

Reaserch Highlights

• Z. Li, X.-W. Luo, D. Lin, A. Gharajeh, J. Moon, J. Hou, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 023202 (2023).
  • We experimentally realize a topological microlaser via a 1D non-Hermitian AAH photonic lattice of ring cavities.
• F. A. An, B. Sundar, J. Hou et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 130401 (2021). Editors’ Suggestion
  • We experimentally realize a synthetic lattice in momentum space and show how nonlinear interactions and coherent tunneling lead to rich dyanmics including macroscopic self-trapping and phase-driven Josephson dynamics. The latter was predicted in our previous work Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 120401 (2018).
• Y.-J. Wu, J. Hou et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 227001 (2020).
  • We discover an experimentally accessible platform, using a heterostructure of a quantum spin Hall insulator and an s-wave superconductor, for engineering Majorana corner and hinge modes, which are beneficial for topological quantum computing.
• J. Hou et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 073603 (2020).
  • We develop the topological band theory for non-Hermitian hyperbolic metamaterials in continuous limits and reveal it as photonic topological semimetal with triply-degenerate point.
• M. E. Mossman, J. Hou et al, Nat. Commun. 10, 3381 (2019). Editors’ Highlights
  • We theoretically propose and experimentally realize an atomtronic device called nonmagnetic unidirectional spin switch, in which the direction of spin flip can be controlled in an non-magnetic manner.
• H. Hu, J. Hou et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 240401 (2018).
  • We classify the triply-degenerate point, a “new” kind of fermionic excitation, according to their topological properties.
• J. Hou et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 120401 (2018). Editors’ Suggestion
  • We demonstrate a bosonic Josephson junction in momentum space.
  • A relevant experimental realization of the proposed setup: T. M. Bersano, J. Hou, et al, Phys. Rev. A 99, 051602(R) (2019).
• J. Hou et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 060407 (2018).
  • We propose a quantum state of matter called Superfluid-Quasicrystal, which is a superfluid but spontaneously forms quasicrystalline order in real space.
  • See select news reports Newsweek, UTD News, Galileonet, Phys.org.

Full publication list is available on Google Scholar.

Education Background

• Ph.D in Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States 08/2016 - 08/2021
  • Thesis: Exotic Phases and Quantum Dynamics in Spin-Orbit Coupled Bose-Einstein Condensates; Advisor: Dr. Chuanwei Zhang.
  • David Daniel Thesis Award by Dean of Graduate Education
• Exchange program in Software Engineering, Pole Universitaire Leonard de Vinci, France 08/2015 - 02/2016
• B. E. in Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China 09/2012 - 06/2016
  • Special Training Class for Computer Software
  • National Scholarship by Ministry of Education, China

Professional Services

I serve as invited referee/reviewer for Science, Nat. Commun., Phys. Rev. Lett., Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B, Frontiers in Physics, IEEE Access, Phys. Rev. Res., zbMath, etc.