Andrew J. Millis stands as a preeminent theoretical physicist whose work has fundamentally shaped the understanding of quantum materials and correlated electron systems. He currently serves as Professor of Physics at Columbia University and co-Director of the Center for Computational Quantum Physics at the Flatiron Institute, where he also holds the position of Managing Director. After receiving his AB in Physics from Harvard University in 1982 and completing advanced mathematical studies at Cambridge University, he earned his PhD in Physics from MIT in 1986. His distinguished career began with a decade of influential research at Bell Laboratories before progressing through faculty positions at Johns Hopkins University and Rutgers University, culminating in his appointment at Columbia University in 2002 where he later served as Department Chair from 2006 to 2009.
Dr. Millis has pioneered theoretical frameworks and computational methods that have revolutionized the study of strongly correlated electron systems, with particular emphasis on high-temperature superconductivity, quantum critical phenomena, and nonequilibrium dynamics in quantum materials. His development of continuous time quantum Monte Carlo methods has provided essential tools for the computational physics community, enabling unprecedented insights into the behavior of complex quantum systems that were previously intractable. His seminal work on the theory of high-temperature superconductivity in copper-oxide materials and the physics of colossal magnetoresistance in perovskite manganites has established foundational understanding for these phenomena that continues to guide experimental research worldwide. With over 400 publications, his research has profoundly influenced the field of condensed matter physics, offering critical theoretical frameworks that bridge microscopic models with macroscopic material properties.
Beyond his research contributions, Professor Millis has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of computational quantum physics through his leadership of the Center for Computational Quantum Physics, which has become a global hub for developing and applying advanced computational techniques to quantum many-body problems. He has served on numerous influential advisory boards including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, the Aspen Center for Physics, and the National Science Foundation's Mathematics and Physical Sciences Division, where his expertise has guided strategic directions in physics research funding. His mentorship has cultivated a generation of theoretical physicists, with many former students and postdocs now leading research groups at major institutions worldwide. Currently advancing the frontier of nonequilibrium quantum phenomena and developing new machine learning approaches for many-body physics, Dr. Millis continues to drive innovation in theoretical condensed matter physics while fostering collaborative research initiatives that bridge computational science with experimental discoveries.
