Bangladeshi Physicist Breaks Barriers in Quantum Research

Strategic Insights -

A paper published by Naafis Ahnaf Shahed, a doctoral researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), marked a significant milestone in quantum materials research, showcasing the growing influence of South Asian researchers in the field. Shahed's work on twisted quantum oxides, published in Nature in August 2024, has drawn international attention for its implications in spintronics and low-power computing. The study introduces a new method for controlling magnetism and electronic behavior on the atomic scale, opening a pathway toward faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient quantum devices.

Key Takeaways:

  • Naafis Ahnaf Shahed, a Bangladeshi physicist, published a paper in Nature titled 'Twist-assisted all-antiferromagnetic tunnel junction in the atomic limit,' introducing a new method for controlling magnetism and electronic behavior on the atomic scale.
  • The study, conducted in collaboration with Professor Stuart Parkin and scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Germany), has significant implications for spintronics and low-power computing.
  • Shahed's work laid the groundwork for a new research direction in condensed matter physics known as antiferromagnetic twistronics.
  • The research has been cited over 175 times, with an h-index of 8, a strong record for a researcher still early in his PhD journey.
  • Shahed's findings have contributed to the successful award of a US$2.0 million NSF DMREF grant starting in October 2025, representing Nebraska's first-ever DMREF award.
  • The NSF DMREF project, led by Professor Evgeny Tsymbal, unites physicists, data scientists, and engineers to accelerate materials discovery through theory, computation, and machine learning.
  • Shahed's research focuses on twisted oxide heterostructures, topology, and magnetoelectric coupling, using advanced density functional theory (DFT) and Green's function-based modeling.
  • His growing list of publications includes Nature, Physical Review B, Advanced Materials, and ACS Nano.
  • Shahed expects to complete his PhD by Fall 2026.

Statistics:

  • Over 175 citations for Shahed's research as of October 2025.
  • h-index of 8, a strong record for a researcher still early in his PhD journey.
  • US$2.0 million NSF DMREF grant awarded to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in October 2025.
  • Published research includes Nature, Physical Review B, Advanced Materials, and ACS Nano.

Sources:

  • "Twist-assisted all-antiferromagnetic tunnel junction in the atomic limit," Nature, August 14, 2024.
  • "Prediction of polarization vortices, charge modulation, flat bands, and moire magnetism in twisted oxide bilayers," Physical Review B, May 2025.
  • NSF DMREF grant award, October 2025.