Professor Frank Y. Gao will join the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Department of Chemistry as an assistant professor in August 2026. He is currently a Texas Quantum Institute postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Before moving to Texas, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical physics from the University of Toronto in 2015 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2021, supported by an NSERC post-graduate fellowship.
Originally from Canada, Frank was excited about the opportunity to move to the Midwest and work for UW. “Going in, I knew that UW-Madison was a world-class institute for the chemical sciences,” he explained. “When I arrived, I was blown away by the unique combination of intellectual vigor and supportive environment that I found.” Frank said, “Joining such a preeminent institution as UW-Madison is akin to the stars aligning for me, and I could not be more excited going forward!”
As he transitions to Madison and prepares to launch his lab, Frank will draw on his prior experience helping to build a research group from the ground up. “It gave me a firsthand view of the challenges involved in starting out,” he explains, “but also the enormous rewards of realizing one’s own research vision and driving the success of one’s mentees.”
Frank’s research journey began in college, where he encountered the concepts of femtochemistry and coherent control—the realization that light could be used not only to observe atomic-scale dynamics in real-time, but also to shape them. This idea, that light could serve as both a probe and a tool for directing chemical and physicochemical change, became a guiding theme in his scientific path. He began his Ph.D. by investigating ultrafast photochemical reactions in highly constrained local environments. From there, his interests gradually expanded into materials and solid-state systems, and he became increasingly intrigued by the prospect of using light to induce dramatic transformations, unlocking novel phases of matter hidden in time.
This curiosity led him to develop the experimental skillset required to operate in the ultrafast and nonlinear optical regimes—tools he carried into his postdoctoral work. There, he began applying these techniques to the new class of quantum materials and found himself drawn to physical concepts such as symmetry, magnetism, chirality, and emergent order. These systems opened new frontiers, where Frank found opportunities not only to observe but also to actively control collective phenomena.
Today, Frank’s research harnesses tailored light pulses—spanning the visible to terahertz spectral range—to drive material systems into new dynamic regimes, revealing behaviors inaccessible under normal conditions. Positioned at the intersection of physical chemistry, condensed matter physics, and materials science, the Gao group pioneers novel multidimensional and single-shot spectroscopy techniques aimed at uncovering and manipulating fundamental interactions among electrons, vibrations, and spins within complex materials. Current efforts include directing energy transport in light-harvesting systems, interrogating photocatalysts for solar fuel production, and probing collective mode dynamics in quantum materials, with the broader goal of advancing next-generation clean energy and information technologies. As part of the UW RISE-EARTH initiative, the Gao group is dedicated to laying the scientific foundations for a sustainable technological future and taking full advantage of the collaborative community at UW-Madison.
Frank’s approach to teaching is a culmination of his experience in public schools. “I firmly believe in public education and its mission,” he explained, “I see it as a vital public good—one that enriches society by cultivating the next generation of scientists, engineers, and critical thinkers.” In his teaching, he’s motivated by the opportunity to support students’ intellectual and academic development, not only by demonstrating the elegance of chemical and physicochemical principles but also by linking these ideas to cutting-edge developments in industry and research. His ultimate goal is to help students build a holistic understanding of the material world and equip them to apply it meaningfully in real-world settings.
In class, students can expect scientific rigor from an enthusiastic teacher. “My goal is not only to convey the course material clearly but also to enrich the learning experience with engaging stories that spark curiosity and broaden students’ perspectives.” He says he will actively encourage students to attend office hours so that he can try to explain things differently, knowing from experience that different explanations may resonate more intuitively with different learners.
In his lab, Frank’s goal is to help students become well-rounded scientists. He aims to produce exceptional experimentalists with strong skills in ultrafast optics, nonlinear spectroscopy, electronics, and data analysis, he says, “but also individuals who are passionate about their research and possess the creativity and insight to open new paths at the frontiers of human knowledge.”