This story was originally published on the Arts & Science website

The Royal Society bestows this honour on Canadians “who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.”

“This year’s cohort of Fellows joins a distinguished group of Arts & Science professors who have been honoured by the Royal Society in previous years,” says Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty. “They are just as deserving of this distinction for the excellence of their research and its impact around the world. They are a big part of the reason U of T remains a leading research institution and I am proud to congratulate them all.”

Yong Baek Kim is a professor in the Department of Physics and a theoretical quantum condensed matter physicist. His research investigates emergent quantum phenomena and novel excitations in quantum materials. These include topological excitations which may hold a key for potential applications to future quantum technologies. He is recognized by a Guggenheim Fellowship (2022), Simons Fellowship (2022), Killam Fellowship (2018), Brockhouse Medal (2017), Fellow of American Physical Society (2012), Canada Research Chair (2002) and a Sloan Fellowship (1999).

“I feel very honoured by this recognition,” says Kim. “I am greatly encouraged that my work has been appreciated by prominent scientists whom I respect. Clearly, this achievement was not possible without the efforts of my close collaborators, especially my past and current students and postdoctoral fellows. I am very grateful to them for sharing their intellectual energy with me.