The list of awardees for “THE XPLORER PRIZE” was announced on August 24, 2026. Professor Qihang LIU and Associate Professor Zhuoyu CHEN from the Department of Physics at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) won THE XPLORER PRIZE in the field of Mathematics and Physics, while Associate Professor Ning JIA from the School of Medicine won THE XPLORER PRIZE in the field of Life Sciences.

Qihang LIU is a recipient of the Young Scientists Fund (Category A) of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. His research primarily focuses on condensed matter physics and computational materials, with specific interests in new theories and effects of symmetry in quantum materials, as well as the design and screening of related novel materials.

Among his recent major innovative contributions, he systematically developed the spin space group theory to describe the symmetry of magnetic materials for the first time. By applying this theory, he conducted a rigorous mathematical classification of magnetic ordering, thereby pioneering a new research direction in “unconventional magnetism.” His related achievements have been published in leading academic journals, including Nature.

Zhuoyu CHEN primarily conducts experimental research on high-temperature superconducting materials and their mechanisms. By developing advanced experimental techniques such as oxide film epitaxy, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and quantum transport, he is dedicated to discovering novel high-temperature superconductors and exploring their underlying mechanisms.

Leading his team, he independently developed the “Strong Oxidation Atomic Layer-by-Layer Epitaxy” technology. Through this innovation, his team successfully discovered and confirmed ambient-pressure nickel-based high-temperature superconductivity, and for the first time, revealed the electronic band structure and superconducting gap of the nickel-based high-temperature superconducting state. His related achievements have been published in leading academic journals, including Science and Nature.

Ning JIA has long focused her research on the interaction mechanisms between bacteria and bacteriophages. She has systematically elucidated the anti-phage immune mechanisms of bacteria and the counter-defense strategies of bacteriophages at various stages of infection.

Notably, she discovered a novel “DNA decoy” immune mechanism mediated by long-chain poly(A) cDNA synthesized by bacterial reverse transcriptase, as well as a new counter-defense mechanism utilizing non-coding RNA to inhibit bacterial immunity. These groundbreaking findings have significantly expanded our understanding of bacterial antiviral immunity and the functions of nucleic acids. Her related achievements have been published in leading academic journals, including Science.

THE XPLORER PRIZE is a nonprofit and non-governmental award funded and operated by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation, known as one of the leading funding programs for young scientists in China.  THE XPLORER PRIZE supports promising young scientists to unleash their full potential and push the frontiers of basic science and frontier technologies by providing no-strings-attached funding. The award covers ten fields, selecting no more than 50 awardees each year. Since the first list of awardees was announced in 2019, 10 scientists from SUSTech have received this award.