A/Professor Julie Karel
A/Professor Julie Karel
Associate Professor Julie Karel is a materials scientist working at the intersection of quantum physics and energy-efficient electronics. Based in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Monash University, she also serves as Deputy Director, Research, for the Monash Energy Institute. Julie’s research focuses on designing and understanding novel quantum materials that could drive the next generation of ultra-low energy electronic devices—critical in a world where digital infrastructure accounts for a growing share of global electricity use. Her pioneering work on amorphous quantum materials has demonstrated that these low-cost, scalable materials can match or even outperform their crystalline counterparts. Through her leadership at the Monash Energy Institute, Julie is helping to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary research community committed to advancing the global energy transition.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
- M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
- B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Interests
Associate Professor Julie Karel’s research lies at the intersection of materials engineering and condensed matter physics, with a focus on developing novel materials for next-generation, low-energy electronic and data storage devices. Her work combines advanced fabrication techniques with a suite of experimental tools—including electronic and magnetotransport measurements and synchrotron-based spectroscopy—to uncover the electronic and magnetic properties of complex materials.
Julie has pioneered the study of spin transport and spin currents in amorphous systems, revealing that these disordered materials can exhibit remarkable quantum properties typically associated with crystalline structures. Notably, she demonstrated that topological effects, such as a non-zero Berry curvature, can emerge in amorphous materials—an unexpected and groundbreaking result.
Her research highlights include:
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Top-down patterning of topological insulators to create edge and surface states using focused ion beams (Nature Communications, 2023).
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Discovery of a giant anomalous Hall effect in non-collinear antiferromagnets, challenging conventional expectations and opening new paths for spintronic applications (Science Advances, 2016).
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Electrostatic control of electronic phases via ionic liquid gating, enabling massive, reversible resistivity changes in materials like VO₂ and WO₃ (ACS Nano 2014; PNAS 2016).
Research articles, papers & publications
See Julie’s research contributions through published book chapters, articles, journal papers and in the media.