Dr Haitao Quan is a full professor in the School of Physics at Peking University. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Central South University in 2002 and his Ph.D. from the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2007. Following his Ph.D., Professor Quan completed postdoctoral research at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2007-2010) and at the University of Maryland, College Park (2010-2012). He joined Peking University as a junior faculty member in December 2012, and was promoted to full professor in January 2019. Professor Quan’s research interests lie in statistical mechanics and quantum physics, focusing on fundamental problems in nonequilibrium and equilibrium statistical thermodynamics in small systems, including stochastic thermodynamics, information thermodynamics, quantum heat engines, and dynamical aspects of quantum and classical phase transitions. He has received numerous awards including the National Natural Science Award of China (Second prize).