Sufyan is a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter. He holds a master's degree in mathematical and theoretical physics from the University of Oxford.

Topological phases of matter represent a new class of materials that go beyond the existing paradigms of classifying phases of matter. Sufyan explores the extension of the paradigm of topological phases of matter to include topological matter strongly coupled to quantum electrodynamics fields. One of the most important tasks in this regard is the classification of topological phases of matter and he extends this classification to include gauge fields. This holds a promise in applications such as control of topological insulators which are important to realize robust spintronics technologies. Topological superconductors also are useful in realizing a quantum computing paradiagm based on topological qubits. Hence, the control of such phases of matter via gauge fields is a key ingriedent in realizing such technologies.

Sufyan plans to also extend the investiagtion of matter coupled to gauge fields to include non-Abelian gauge fields that appear in high energy physics and therefore to bridge the areas of condensed matter and high energy physics. Condensed matter have wide kinds of complex and emergent phases that are capable of simulating theories in other areas of physics. Specifically, we want to use 2D materials and their twisted structures to realize such theories.