Celebrating Our Newest APS Fellows: Dr. Matthew Pelton and Dr. Sebastian Deffner

We are thrilled to share that two of our Physics faculty members—Department Chair Matthew Pelton and Professor Sebastian Deffner—have been elected 2026 Fellows of the American Physical Society. This highly selective distinction is granted annually to roughly 0.5% of non-student APS members to recognize exceptional work in physics.

• Matthew Pelton (Division of Laser Science) was recognized for his experimental work studying light interactions with nanoscale materials, a field with key applications in quantum photonics, solar energy conversion, and sensing.

• Sebastian Deffner (Division of Statistical and Nonlinear Physics) was honored for his theoretical research in quantum thermodynamics and how quantum systems behave far from equilibrium, which helps drive advancements in quantum information and control for the quantum systems of the future. Deffner also currently chairs this APS division.

Both professors are affiliated with UMBC’s Quantum Science Institute.