New fellowship empowers future physicists to explore quantum frontier

When Ethan Berg talks about spin, he doesn’t mean rotation in the everyday sense. He’s talking about one of the most fundamental properties of matter — a quantum physics phenomenon that could help power the next generation of computers.

“Quantum mechanical properties of matter like spin … are such versatile tools on the pathway to building the most powerful computers the world has seen,” says Berg, a first-year PhD student in physics at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “Understanding these fundamental properties and their interactions is incredibly profound.”

The scale of that challenge requires both focus and opportunity. As the inaugural recipient of the Santec PhD Fellowship in Physics Fund, Berg has the freedom to pursue complex quantum questions during the formative early years of his doctoral training.

New fellowship is a quantum leap for students

The fellowship is part of a $250,000 gift from Santec USA Corporation, spearheaded by USC alumnus Changho Chong, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Santec. The gift establishes the Santec PhD Fellowship in Physics Fund and the Santec Research in Physics Fund, strengthening both graduate education and faculty-led discovery in the USC Dornsife Department of Physics and Astronomy.

For Berg, that support has been transformative.

“The fellowship has allowed me to fully invest myself in my coursework, building a strong foundation in many fields of study,” he says.

Before arriving at USC, Berg completed his bachelor’s degree in physics with a specialization in materials physics at the University of California, San Diego. At USC Dornsife, he is building on that foundation by working with faculty exploring systems such as nitrogen-vacancy centers (an atomic-scale defect found in diamonds) and two-dimensional magnetic materials — research that may one day inform advances in quantum computing.

He plans to focus his doctoral research on spin dynamics, developing more robust measurement techniques and identifying high-efficiency spin-switching systems for quantum technologies.

USC alumnus invests in discovery

With decades of experience in photonics — the engineering of light — Chong has led efforts that bring industry and academic research into closer alignment. Through collaborations with universities across the United States, including several ongoing projects at USC, he has seen firsthand how fundamental research can shape technological breakthroughs.

Chong’s gift was designed to strengthen physics at USC Dornsife by supporting promising graduate students and advancing faculty research at the frontiers of science.

“It’s really difficult for industry to discover talent or core technology,” says Chong, who graduated with a master’s degree from USC Viterbi School of Engineering in 1995 and an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business in 2021. What he values about USC, he explains, is how researchers across different areas work together and connect ideas.

“I am always trying to make connections,” he says. “Connecting dots from different areas is what drives technology development.”

In addition to funding fellowships for outstanding incoming PhD students, half of Chong’s gift establishes the Santec Research in Physics Fund, supporting research led by Moh El-Naggar, Dean’s Professor of Physics and Astronomy and professor of physics and astronomy, chemistry and biological sciences.

Together, the funds reflect a shared commitment to both people and discovery — ensuring that emerging physicists like Berg have the support to pursue ambitious questions, while faculty research continues to push the limits of what is known.

For Berg, that investment means the freedom to explore complex questions about the quantum nature of matter — and the possibility of shaping technologies that have yet to be imagined. His long-term goal is to remain in academia, mentoring future scientists much as he has been supported.

“I want to be able to use the skills I learn during this process to provide opportunities for future students to fully invest in science,” says Berg, “in much the same way this fellowship is supporting me.”