Welcome to the Kang Research Group
NEW!! Postdoctoral Job Opening: We invite applications for a postdoctoral position in our group. For full details and application instructions, please visit: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30977.
Our group is dedicated to exploring some of the most fundamental questions in theoretical physics, focusing on Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and strong interactions. Our research falls under the [hep-ph] category on arXiv.org: high-energy physics – phenomenology, which studies how the fundamental laws of nature manifest in observable phenomena.
We work broadly on QCD theory and phenomenology, with close connections to the experimental programs at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), and the future Electron–Ion Collider (EIC). We also actively pursue emerging directions in quantum simulation, tensor-network methods, and machine learning for nuclear and particle physics.
We are part of the SURGE Collaboration, a Topical Collaboration in Nuclear Theory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, as well as the California EIC Consortium. By bridging theory and experiment, we aim to unlock new insights into the strong interaction and the properties of strongly interacting matter.
Our research focuses on several key areas in theoretical high-energy nuclear and particle physics:
Our research builds on advanced theoretical frameworks, such as Soft Collinear Effective Theory (SCET) and QCD factorization, to develop rigorous tools for studying QCD dynamics. In parallel, we leverage state-of-the-art computational methodologies, including quantum simulations and machine learning, to tackle real-time dynamics, non-perturbative challenges, and the analysis of complex datasets. These complementary approaches expand our understanding of the strong interaction and enable deeper insights into high-energy nuclear and particle physics.
The group is led by Professor Zhongbo Kang, a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UCLA. Professor Kang is a recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty CAREER Award for his research contributions and has been recognized with the Teacher of the Year Award, i.e., the Abelmann Award for teaching excellence, for his commitment to teaching and mentoring. He is affiliated with the Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics, the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (CQSE), and the Center for Frontiers in Nuclear Science (CFNS) at Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Before joining UCLA, Professor Kang served as a staff scientist in the Theoretical Division (Group T-2) at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
We are committed to training the next generation of physicists. Graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates in our group gain hands-on experience in theoretical methods, numerical simulations, and computational tools. Our alumni are well-prepared to pursue careers in academia, national labs, and industry. We gratefully acknowledge support from:
- National Science Foundation
- Department of Energy
- CFNS of Stony Brook and Brookhaven
- UC Office of the President (UCOP)
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
For prospective graduate students, please explore the Research page to learn more about our work. If you’re interested in joining our group, visit Join Us page for application details.