Michael Manfra

Michael James Manfra
Born (1969-12-16) December 16, 1969 (age 56)
Boston, Massachusetts
EducationHarvard University
Boston University
Known forExperimental demonstration of anyonic braiding statistics
AwardsOliver E. Buckley Prize (2026)
Scientific career
FieldsQuantum computing
Condensed matter physics
WorkplacesPurdue University
Microsoft Quantum

Michael James Manfra (born December 16, 1969) is an American physicist and academic administrator known for his contributions to condensed matter physics and quantum computing. His research focuses on topological phases of matter examined with nanoscale devices that probe strong electronic correlations and topological phenomena, and the development of novel qubit platforms for fault-tolerant quantum computation. He is a recipient of the 2026 Oliver E. Buckley Prize in condensed matter physics from the American Physical Society for experimental work demonstrating anyonic braiding statistics in the fractional quantum Hall effect and advancing understanding of topological excitations in two-dimensional systems.

Education

Manfra graduated as valedictorian from Malden Catholic High School in Malden, Massachusetts in 1988 and received his A.B. in physics, cum laude, from Harvard University in 1992. He went on to earn an M.A. (1994) and a Ph.D. (1999) in physics from Boston University.

Career

Manfra receiving the 2026 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize from the American Physical Society.
Manfra receiving the 2026 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize from the American Physical Society.

Manfra joined Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, as a postdoctoral member of the technical staff in October 1998 and was subsequently promoted to member of the technical staff in 2001. At Bell Labs, his work focused on molecular-beam epitaxy growth and device physics in low-dimensional semiconductor systems.

In 2009, Manfra joined Purdue University as a faculty member, holding joint appointments in physics and astronomy, materials engineering, and electrical and computer engineering. He was the William F. and Patty J. Miller Associate Professor (2009–2013) and was promoted to full professor in 2013. He has held several endowed positions at Purdue, including his current title as the Bill and Dee O’Brien Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy.

In addition to his academic roles, Manfra has been affiliated with Microsoft Quantum since 2014 as a consultant and has served as Director of Microsoft Quantum, West Lafayette since 2016. In 2025, he was appointed Director of the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, and in 2026 he became Purdue University's Chief Quantum Officer and Special Advisor to the President and Provost.

At Purdue, Manfra's research spans novel materials development using molecular beam epitaxy, nanoscale device fabrication, and sensitive electronic measurements at ultra-low temperatures and high magnetic fields with an emphasis on exploration of new qubit modalities.

In 2020, his team at Purdue reported an interferometric measurement of anyon braiding. This discovery earned him the Oliver E. Buckley Prize in 2026.

Honors and awards

Selected works

Patents

References

  1. ↑ "Directory". Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute.
  2. 1 2 3 "Research – The Manfra Group". Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  3. 1 2 "Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize | American Physical Society".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. 1 2 "Prof. Michael J. Manfra – The Manfra Group". Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  5. ↑ "Michael J. Manfra: Department of Physics and Astronomy: Purdue University". www.physics.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  6. ↑ "Manfra appointed Purdue's chief quantum officer". News. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  7. ↑ "Purdue Prof. Michael Manfra receives 2026 APS Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize". Purdue University. April 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Profs. Carlson and Manfra elected APS Fellows: Department of Physics and Astronomy: Purdue University". www.physics.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  9. ↑ Service, Purdue News. "Purdue physicist earns global recognition with Falling Walls Foundation honor". www.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  10. ↑ "MSE/ECE's Manfra receives Bement Award". Purdue University College of Engineering.
  11. ↑ Trapp, Francoise von (2023-06-06). "ECTC 2023: Quantum Computing, Hybrid Bonding, and the CHIPS for America Act IMAPS 3D InCites Content Platform". IMAPS 3D InCites Content Platform. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  12. ↑ "Quantum Connections in Sweden-15 Summer School". Agenda (Indico). Archived from the original on 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  13. ↑ Nakamura, J.; Liang, S.; Gardner, G. C.; Manfra, M. J. (September 1, 2020). "Direct observation of anyonic braiding statistics". Nature Physics. 16 (9): 931–936. arXiv:2006.14115. doi:10.1038/s41567-020-1019-1. ISSN 1745-2473.
  14. ↑ Microsoft Azure Quantum; Aghaee, Morteza; Alcaraz Ramirez, Alejandro; Alam, Zulfi; Ali, Rizwan; Andrzejczuk, Mariusz; Antipov, Andrey; Astafev, Mikhail; Barzegar, Amin; Bauer, Bela; Becker, Jonathan; Bhaskar, Umesh Kumar; Bocharov, Alex; Boddapati, Srini; Bohn, David (2025-02-20). "Interferometric single-shot parity measurement in InAs–Al hybrid devices". Nature. 638 (8051): 651–655. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08445-2. ISSN 0028-0836. PMC 11839464. PMID 39972225.
  15. ↑ Manfra, Michael J. (2014-03-01). "Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Ultra-High-Quality AlGaAs/GaAs Heterostructures: Enabling Physics in Low-Dimensional Electronic Systems". Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics. 5 (1): 347–373. doi:10.1146/annurev-conmatphys-031113-133905. ISSN 1947-5454.
  16. ↑ Aghaee, Morteza; Akkala, Arun; Alam, Zulfi; Ali, Rizwan; Alcaraz Ramirez, Alejandro; Andrzejczuk, Mariusz; Antipov, Andrey E.; Aseev, Pavel; Astafev, Mikhail; Bauer, Bela; Becker, Jonathan; Boddapati, Srini; Boekhout, Frenk; Bommer, Jouri; Bosma, Tom (2023-06-21). "InAs-Al hybrid devices passing the topological gap protocol". Physical Review B. 107 (24). arXiv:2207.02472. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.107.245423. ISSN 2469-9950.
  17. ↑ Nakamura, J.; Fallahi, S.; Sahasrabudhe, H.; Rahman, R.; Liang, S.; Gardner, G. C.; Manfra, M. J. (June 2019). "Aharonov–Bohm interference of fractional quantum Hall edge modes". Nature Physics. 15 (6): 563–569. arXiv:1901.08452. doi:10.1038/s41567-019-0441-8. ISSN 1745-2473.
  18. ↑ Nakamura, J.; Liang, S.; Gardner, G. C.; Manfra, M. J. (2023-10-23). "Fabry-Pérot Interferometry at the ν = 2 / 5 Fractional Quantum Hall State". Physical Review X. 13 (4). doi:10.1103/PhysRevX.13.041012. ISSN 2160-3308.
  19. ↑ Gardner, Geoffrey C.; Fallahi, Saeed; Watson, John D.; Manfra, Michael J. (May 2016). "Modified MBE hardware and techniques and role of gallium purity for attainment of two dimensional electron gas mobility >35×106cm2/V s in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells grown by MBE". Journal of Crystal Growth. 441: 71–77. arXiv:1601.05401. doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2016.02.010.