Rate My Professor Chris Hooley

Professor Chris Hooley serves as Professor in Theoretical Physics at Coventry University, where he leads the Statistical Physics Group within the Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems. The group holds an international reputation for its work in classical and quantum statistical physics, with particular expertise in liquid crystals and polymers, alongside interdisciplinary explorations in biophysics, computational physics, cosmology, informatics, sociophysics, transport, and narrative networks. Hooley's research focuses on the theoretical physics of strongly correlated many-body quantum systems, primarily in condensed matter contexts. His investigations address critical phenomena, topological phases, non-equilibrium dynamics, and quantum criticality, employing advanced techniques such as matrix product states, path integrals, and tensor networks.

Prior to joining Coventry University, Hooley was affiliated with the University of St Andrews School of Physics and Astronomy from September 2005 to September 2023, holding the position of Reader in theoretical condensed matter physics. His scholarly output includes high-impact publications in prestigious journals. Notable works encompass 'Generalized Haldane map from the matrix product state path integral to the critical theory of the J1-J2 chain' (Physical Review Research, 2025), 'Classically bound and quantum quasi-bound states of an electron on a plane adjacent to a magnetic monopole' (Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 2025), 'Stochastic resetting in discrete-time quantum dynamics: steady states and correlations in few-qubit systems' (Quantum, 2025), and 'Hierarchy of Lifshitz Transitions in the Surface Electronic Structure of Sr2RuO4 under Uniaxial Compression' (Physical Review Letters, 2023). Earlier contributions include research on quantum phase transitions in disordered systems (Physical Review Letters, 2004). Hooley has delivered invited talks, such as on quantum critical electron fluids at the Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems seminar (2023), phase transitions in quantum circuits at quBitter 2025, and statistical physics of complex systems in international webinars. He supervises PhD students and fosters collaborations across institutions including the University of St Andrews and Max Planck Institutes.