Dr. Jacob Ngaha, of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, and Ngāti Kahu descent, is Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Māori quantum physicist. He completed his PhD in theoretical quantum optics at the University of Auckland, focusing on the interactions between light and matter. Currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Mathematics, Ngaha is investigating quantum effects in coupled nano-lasers. He is passionate about integrating mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) with scientific inquiry, aiming to enrich both fields.
