Dr. Yuan Cao

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Yuan Cao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, starting in July 2024. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Applied Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2014 and completed both his master's and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Between 2021 and 2024, he served as a Junior Fellow at Harvard University before joining the faculty at Berkeley. His primary research focuses on the electrical properties of low-dimensional materials, utilizing cross-disciplinary approaches in nanotechnology and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). He has received numerous awards for his contributions to physics, including being recognized in 2018 on 'Nature's 10' list of Physics Breakthrough of the Year for his research on superconductivity in twisted graphene, TIME 100 Rising Stars in 2019, and the Sackler Prize in Physics in 2020. Constantly seeking highly motivated graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, he welcomes those with deep interests in condensed-matter physics, experimental physics, and nanofabrication.

Research Interests

Awards

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DOE Early Career Research Award

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Sackler Prize in Physics

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TIME 100 Rising Stars

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'Nature's 10' list of Physics Breakthrough of the Year

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.