Wing-Ho Ko
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2010 Ph. D. in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
Thesis Advisor: Patrick A. Lee
2005 summa cum laude, Bachelor of Science in Physics, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, USA.
2005 summa cum laude, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2000 Certificate of Education Examination, Hong Kong.
A in English Language (Syllabus B), Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics,
and Economics.
B in Chinese Language and Religious Studies.
School: Diocesan Boys' School, Hong Kong
Employment
Full-time
2010–2013 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kohn Hall,
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
Research Mentor: Leon Balents
Teaching Assistantships
Spring 2010 (8.334) Statistical Mechanics II (Graduate Level), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA.
Fall 2008 (8.511) Theory of Solids I (Graduate Level), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA.
Spring 2008 (8.512) Theory of Solids II (Graduate Level), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA.
Spring 2007 (8.512) Theory of Solids II (Graduate Level), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA.
Fall 2006 (8.321) Quantum Theory I (Graduate Level), Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA.
Part-time/Temporary
2002–2005 Mentor, Netmath Distance Education Program, Department of Mathematics,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Room 2405, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kohn Hall, University Of California,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Mobile: +1 (617) 899 5709
Phone: +1 (805) 893 6399
Email: wko@kitp.ucsb.edu
Webpage: www.kitp.ucsb.edu/wko
Page 1
2002 Student Assistant, Centre of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University
of Hong Kong.
2001 Enumerator I, Hong Kong Population Census, Census and Statistics Department,
Hong Kong Government.
Biographical Sketch
A native of Hong Kong, I received education there up till Form 6 (roughly equivalent to Grade 12 in the
United States system). Thereafter, I went to the United States to study at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), graduating with double degrees in physics and mathematics, and receiving
the outstanding graduating senior awards from both departments (the H. Roy Brahana Prize and the
Ernest M. Lyman Prize). Having obtained a Ph. D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT), and thinking that I would like to pursue a career in physics research, I have since been
working as a postdoctoral research associate at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP).
In addition, I have developed keen interests in education. I was selected as a mentor of the Netmath
Distance Education Program at UIUC, and had enjoyed teaching assistantships at MIT, where I
consistently received evaluation ratings of 6+ out of 7. I was an active participant of the Physics Van, an
outreach program tailored for elementary school (roughly equivalent to primary school in the British
system) students, and received the Undergraduate Outreach Achievement Award partly for that. I also
designed and taught a summer school (Summer HSSP) on symmetry tailored to senior middle school and
beginning high school students.
Memberships and Activities
2008–Present Referee, Physical Review B and Physical Review Letters, American Physical
Society, USA.
2007–Present Mentor, DBS Mentoring Scheme, Diocesan Boys' School, Hong Kong.
2004–Present Member, American Physical Society, USA.
2009 Teacher, Summer HSSP, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
2009 Poster Presenter, Gordon Research Conference on Superconductivity, Hong Kong.
2008 Participant, Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, USA.
2008 Poster Presenter, Gordon Research Conference on Correlated Electron Systems,
USA.
2003–2005 Treasurer, Physics Society, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2002–2005 Participant, Physics Van, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2002 Member, Phi Eta Sigma National Society, University of Illinois Chapter, USA.
Room 2405, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kohn Hall, University Of California,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Mobile: +1 (617) 899 5709
Phone: +1 (805) 893 6399
Email: wko@kitp.ucsb.edu
Webpage: www.kitp.ucsb.edu/wko
Page 2
Awards and Honors
2009 Andrew M. Lockett III Memorial Fund Award, Department of Physics,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
2005 Lester Wolfe Fellowship, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA.
2005 Ernest M. Lyman Prize, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, USA.
2005 H. Roy Brahana Prize, Department of Mathematics, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2005 University Honors, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2005 James Scholar Graduation Honors, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2005 Outstanding Senior Thesis Award, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2004 Lorella M. Jones Summer Research Fellowship, Department of Physics, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2004 Salma Wanna Memorial Award, Department of Mathematics, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2004 Emily Mann Peck Scholarship, Department of Mathematics, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2004 Sam & Dubey Portnoy Memorial Scholarship, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2004 Undergraduate Outreach Achievement Award, Department of Physics, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
2004 First Prize, Undergraduate Mathematics Contest, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, USA.
2003 Ranked 212/3615, William Lowell Putnam Competition, USA.
Publications
[1] W.-H. Ko, H.-C. Jiang, J. G. Rau, and L. Balents. Ordering and criticality in an
underscreened Kondo chain. Phys. Rev. B, 87, 205107 (2013).
[2] W.-H. Ko and P. A. Lee. Proposal for detecting spin-chirality terms in Mott
insulators via resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. Phys. Rev. B, 84, 125102 (2011).
[3] W.-H. Ko and P. A. Lee. Magnetism and Mott transition: A slave-rotor study. Phys.
Rev. B, 83, 134515 (2011).
[4] W.-H. Ko, Z.-X. Liu, T.-K. Ng, and P. A. Lee. Raman signature of the U(1) Dirac spinRoom 2405, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kohn Hall, University Of California,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Mobile: +1 (617) 899 5709
Phone: +1 (805) 893 6399
Email: wko@kitp.ucsb.edu
Webpage: www.kitp.ucsb.edu/wko
Page 3
liquid state in the spin-1/2 kagome system. Phys. Rev. B, 81, 024414 (2010).
[5] W.-H. Ko, P. A. Lee, and X.-G. Wen. Doped kagome system as exotic
superconductor. Phys. Rev. B, 79, 214502 (2009)
[6] W.-H. Ko, Z.-X. Liu, T.-K. Ng, and P. A. Lee. Spontaneous spin ordering of a Dirac
spin liquid in a magnetic field. Phys. Rev. Lett., 102, 047205 (2009).
[7] W.-H. Ko, C. P. Nave, and P. A. Lee. Extended Gutzwiller approximation for
inhomogeneous systems. Phys. Rev. B, 76, 245113 (2007).
Room 2405, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kohn Hall, University Of California,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Mobile: +1 (617) 899 5709
Phone: +1 (805) 893 6399
Email: wko@kitp.ucsb.edu
Webpage: www.kitp.ucsb.edu/wko
Page 4